Opinion Now, more than ever, BCCI needs to get its house in order
The loss of an important sponsor sends a clear message: If the BCCI wants to save the IPL, it must wield the broom
Pepsi’s withdrawal could finally make the BCCI acknowledge the dirtiest area of its office space — the IPL corner.
By walking out of the five-year deal that was due to expire in 2017, Pepsico, IPL’s title promoter, has dealt a crushing blow to the already battered BCCI. This sponsorship snub — Pepsi pulled out blaming issues relating to the spot-fixing scandal — would hurt the moneyed cricket board more than the recent judicial jabs or even the media knocks. It’s a known fact, the BCCI’s Achilles heel lies somewhere close to the bulging purse resting in its pocket.
That’s because its ongoing reign as the most-influential cricket body in the world isn’t going to be remembered for spreading or grooming the game but for changing cricket’s economics. Putting it simply, in history books, the last decade — the India Era — will be about how the BCCI helped itself to most of the global income pie.
Pepsi’s withdrawal could finally make the BCCI acknowledge the dirtiest area of its office space — the IPL corner.
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The new president, Shashank Manohar, promising sweeping reforms, flaunted his broom. Now, at the working committee meeting on October 18, Manohar has the best chance to show intent, with the futures of the two suspended franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), set to come up for discussion. The BCCI can no longer afford to brush things under the carpet. Kinships and alliances need to be forgotten. It’s time to follow the rules, even if it means burning bridges. And if its well-meaning constitution demands that the CSK and the RR be suspended, so be it. It didn’t press the panic button when the IPL’s image was being sullied. The loss in dollars might finally see some purposeful activity in the corridors of Cricket Centre.
In days to come, the BCCI could find a worthy corporate to replace Pepsi. It could even sign a fancier contract. Like in the past, the IPL next year could see packed stands and demands for free hospitality tickets. But the damage the IPL has suffered is nearing irreversible proportions. If the BCCI wants the IPL to be considered the foremost T20 tournament with global interest, not simply a showpiece dishing out kitschy entertainment, it has to salvage whatever is left of the league’s integrity. Last year, it launched the clean-IPL campaign by having the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar address crowds and explain how it’s been corruption-free. But the men at the BCCI headquarters cannot forever hide behind the on-field accomplishments of their superstars. Now, more than ever, they need to get their house in order.
(This edit appeared in print under the headline Clean-up time)
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