President8217;s Rule in MCA

Today, while he is presiding over the political and cricketing fortunes of the state, things are no better. The Azad Maidan has become the termination point for political rallies and religious congregations while the Cross Maidan a cheap, vantage commercial proposition for the famed Fashion Street hawkers. Of greater significance, the Cross Maidan hosts a Zunka Bhakar stall with the blessings of Shiv Sena!

Mr Joshi is also one of the vice-presidents of the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI and, according to the grapevine, aspires to occupy the post of the president. But if he is squeezed for time and cannot make the short unhindered dash from Mantralaya to MCA for even one meeting, how can one expect him to find time for the BCCI meetings around the vast length and breadth of this country.

The politics in BCCI is not much different than the wheeling-dealings outside. Physical presence isvery essential in winning friends and influencing people. Dinner diplomacies, money talk, promises of position and pleasure jaunts are things that are discussed and debated in person. But it8217;s difficult to achieve it in absentia. Even if you happen to be the chief minister of the commercial capital of the country. Mr Joshi learnt a quick lesson when, despite his grand pronouncements in the media, he could not get the 1996 Wills World Cup opening ceremony to Mumbai. The reason: realisation dawned upon late that the pre-championship extravaganza would feature all participating teams, including Pakistan. And that went against the rabid-anti Pakistan policy of the party he represented. The result: MCA could not aspire for more than than a league fixture to ensure that the Pakistanis did not play in Mumbai.

Mumbai has historically been one of the prime cricketing venues. It8217;s unthinkable that the city, which has produced an overwhelming majority of the cricketers who have represented the country, could be deniedthe cream of the matches 8212; the semi-finals of the 1987 Reliance World Cup and the MRF World Series Cricket in 1989-90 are cases in point.

Cricket will always be a great source of mileage in this country and the Shiv Sena was not going to miss the opportunity. How else have some lesser-known Pakistanis managed to come to Mumbai and parade their talents without any untoward incident?

It8217;s truly embarrassing when a vice-president of the BCCI speaks as a politician by saying that Pakistan will not be allowed to play on Indian soil.

The digging of the Wankhede Stadium by Sena hoodlums 8212; which led to the cancellation of Pakistan8217;s 1990 tour of India 8212; and the shifting of the first-ever World Open Squash event in the country, have done nothing to enhance the credibility of the ruling party in the state. Mumbai sports in general and cricket in particular have been the losers.

The forthcoming MCA elections may well see Polly Umrigar elected as a vice-president. Which could mean greater trouble for MCA.Umrigar is one of the most respected cricketers of the game with a intelligence that is much sought after. But his relationship with BCCI big-wigs has been soured after his much-publicised exit as the Board paid secretary. His differences with BCCI heavyweights like Jagmohan Dalmiya persist. How much these differences will affect Mumbai cricket, is a matter of conjecture.

Ideally, the man who should be leading MCA8217;s fortunes in the BCCI is Sunil Gavaskar. The very man Joshi needled at a public forum three years back. Joshi capitalised on a popular public perception that Gavaskar was reluctant to assume power that was his for the asking. The Chief Minister asked Gavaskar to come forward and occupy the seat of power. What he did not say 8212; but implied 8212; was that Gavaskar should contribute to Mumbai and Indian cricket as an administrator and not just take pot-shots at administrative failings as a money-spinning mediaman. Joshi went on to say he was not interested in seeking a re-election and would gladly stepdown.

Gavaskar8217;s answer came when he was persuaded by well-wishers of Mumbai cricket to occupy the the post of the MCA vice-president following the untimely death of Ramakant Desai.

This writer learns from an unimpeachable authority that the globe-trotting Gavaskar, since joining the committee on June 26, adjusted his schedule to attend five of the seven meetings held since, while seeking leave of absence in the other two.

The MCA constitution says no committee member can be absent for three successive meetings. If he does, he loses his seat. But Joshi8217;s scorecard reads: Meetings 15, attended 0. First among equals are one above the law, Mr President?

The writer is the National Deputy Sports Editor of The Indian Express