Men’s Indian cricket team, highly overrated was out of world cup for good. A bunch of average cricketers have been representing our country for a very long time and have taken their places for granted. Selection of good cricketers is essential not only at the international level but also at the domestic platform. As they say a good foundation leads to a well organized structure. With more than 20 Ranji trophy teams (elite and plate division), dearth of sporting pitches, awful playing conditions, shorter boundaries, the dream of dominating world cricket is quite distant.
Concept of paid selectors has done no good for the Indian team as there is a lack of accountability. Zonal politics still exists with each one of them bringing a player from their zone into the national team neglecting prime criteria for selection. Always citing the example of the Australia, what have we learnt from them is the biggest question. A professional approach towards the game wherein we have a good domestic structure with 8 teams comprising of our country’s best players irrespective of whichever associations they belong to get selected. Ghulam Raja has been the manager of the South African team since their return to international cricket in 1991. Who is the manager on the Indian team? The manager changes for every tour. This is the professionalism what I am talking about. Money or no money the situation will remain the same as long as politicians continue to be associated in the sport.
Kudos to the Indian women’s cricket team for performing consistently for many years without much support and adulation. I strongly remember the day when women’s cricket came under the reigns of the ICC thereby enforcing all member nations to undertake their respective boards. Hoping for a revival, nothing seems to have changed. Well that doesn’t come as a surprise to me as the BCCI isn’t worried about the goose laying the golden egg, why would it care about the goose that isn’t laying egg at all. Best of coaches, trainers, physios, analysts for men’s team but everything goes for a toss when it comes to women.
The Board of control for cricket in India, sorry, The board of control for men’s cricket in India awarded global media rights to Nimbus Communications for all international and domestic cricket owned or controlled by BCCI to be played in India for $612 million while women’s cricket is still being broadcasted on Prasar Bharati.
In the early 2006-07, BCCI was not keen on t20 cricket but the victory in 2007 T20 world cup changed the dimension of cricket in India. First ICL, then to counter it, came IPL (bane of Indian cricket) with the intension of giving opportunity to the lesser known Indian cricketers. All this ideology has gone to drain as the players playing in the IPL are more or less the same people who play international cricket for India.
Great to see the board making money but the question is whether it is going back to where it rightfully belongs. Good playing conditions are as important as building good stadiums. Many associations do not have their own grounds like cities of Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Guwahati etc. BCCI should also look at hiring the services of the best coaches, trainers, sports nutritionists for not just in the IPL but in the domestic cricket which would help our cricketers to make the transition into international cricket much easier. Handing over Indian caps to inexperienced India U-19 cricketers is not the solution to fitter and better team. Cricketers have to be rewarded for their consistent performances over the years which would help them not only during their highs but also their lows.
We need to realize that our cricketers are not short of talent but it is really important that talent is given the right direction thereby making them better players and realize their potential. At the end of the day, these cricketers aspire to play for India and should be provided with nothing but the BEST to become the BEST!!!
