Opinion Bowling alone in Guangzhou
Not sending cricketers to the Asian Games might actually make sense...
Before one starts lambasting the BCCIs decision to not send a team to represent India at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou,China,one needs to understand that there is a lot more than what meets the eye,beyond idealistic patriotism (or the lack thereof) and a dismissive money trumps country conclusion. There are reasons why it would actually make sense for the BCCI to not send its cricket teams. Purely from an on-field perspective,there is little to gain for the Indian team,even if it wins the inaugural medal for its country,which weve just seen is,in and of itself,clearly far from a given. After all,the big kahuna would be expected to win the Asian Games,especially since India has been vociferous in its support of cricket becoming an Olympic sport.
But cricket is probably not going to be included as an Olympic sport,at least for a few decades; that means the Indian teams participation at Guangzhou,even as a public relations exercise,or a lead by example initiative,is likely to have little effect on the decisions that the IOC will make regarding crickets inclusion in the games. And then,of course,there is the fearsome prospect of India not winning,or worse,coming home empty-handed. Sri Lanka,Pakistan,and even Bangladesh,may just spoil Indias party to the extent that the team could even come back bereft of any medals (and pride) if the luck of the draw is not with them. That would be an unmitigated disaster.
There are other reasons as well. It has been reported that the actual reason why the teams are not going is because of the WADA whereabouts clause debate,which is yet to have been resolved. With the cricketers not yet compliant with the latest drug-testing regulations,and NADA coming out and openly stating that BCCI should commit to the testing parameters to which most other sports have consented,participation in the Asian Games would take the ball out of the BCCIs and ICCs court. Participation in international multi-discipline events such as the CWG,Olympics,or the Asian Games would entail compliance with drug tests in the manner that the games governing council decides,and the agreed-to norms and regulations with WADA on an event- rather than team/ individual-basis. These are non-negotiable,and cannot be adjusted so as to ensure fairness and parity. Therefore,if the cricketers were to subject themselves to WADAs policies at any of these events,they would implicitly be assenting to global drug testing norms as agreed to by most other sports and leagues something they clearly do not want.
Last but not least,when the BCCI says that it cannot terminate or cancel tours,it may sound selfish and greedy,but in real terms,its the most logical argument that it could make. Sports events and cricket tours arent one-off events where ad-hoc sponsors and broadcasters team up with local cricket boards on a hail-fellow-well-met basis.
Handshakes and goodwill are no longer enough to supersede contracts and actual damages/ losses suffered by the boards,sponsors,investors,and other stakeholders in events. Rights and benefits are decided,budgeted and exercised years in advance,especially for the Indian teams,and to break those contractual obligations can irreparably harm numerous stakeholders,and jeopardise future events. Lets not forget that sports is a business,and while playing for ones country and nationalism is fine,there needs to be a balance. To ask the BCCI to breach its contracts for the Asian Games sounds a bit much at this juncture,patriotism aside.
A momentary lapse in on- and off-field success does not a catastrophe make,and anyone who feels that cricket is likely to wither,fade away,and eventually be replaced,just needs to ask the casual Indian sports fan where Indian football and basketball fall in the hierarchy of popular Indian sports. Therefore,despite the public relations nightmare that the BCCI is likely to encounter,this decision is likely a prudent one.
With all to lose and nothing to gain,the BCCI may just have more foresight than it is being credited with. Now,it just needs to ensure that its prescience doesnt get mistaken for hypermetropia. And for that,Indian cricket needs to resurrect its image,its ability,and this must translate into pristine performances both on and off the field.
Ceteris paribus,of course India should have participated at the Asian Games. But other things are not equal,and the playing field is littered with mines and dotted with bumps. Therefore,its better in the long run for cricket and the BCCI to lay low for a while,and plan the return to the limelight both methodically and cautiously.
The writer is a Delhi-based sports attorney. Views are personal
express@expressindia.com
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