A welcome decision

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday was reduced to a subject of ridicule across the fraternity following the conclusion of its much-hyped Special General Meeting in New Delhi. In what can be best described as a melt-down of the worst order, the administrators brought an anti-climatic end to their show of bravado of the past fortnight.

However, by quelling their rebellion for whatever reason, albeit indirectly, the ICC and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) have emerged stronger, which for cricketing reasons augurs well. That the sham called BCCI has buckled down under pressure implies that Indian cricket is still not done and dusted by these honourable gentlemen.

By clearing the participation in the Champions Trophy, of which the Men in Blue are defending champions, the Board has merely toed the line of the three-member CoA. In a way, this should be appreciated by the genuine cricket lover as the show will go on, despite the fact that BCCI has lost its face value at every count.

It is a self-infested climb-down if one goes by the authoritative sway it held till a couple of years back. Perhaps, India dug its own grave because of the machinations of nefarious individuals, who treated the cricketing world as their fiefdom. Today, they are paying the price for such highhanded behaviour that almost took India to the brink. Its status has taken such a beating that even Bangladesh voted against the dictatorial tendencies of BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia.

There was a lot of suspense over India’s participation in the Champions Trophy because of the adamant attitude of the men running the show. It almost seemed like a pull-out was on the cards. If better sense has prevailed upon the men who still believe that they rule the roost, then one should rest content that the black-sheep has been spared from global isolation, a demand that is being vociferously made by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The N Srinivasan-inspired rebels have not wilted under pressure. Rather, they were brought to a situation from where any further sign of defiance would have damaged their game-plan, once and for all. That is something unbearable for a power-monger like the Tamil Nadu strongman, who regrettably might see the writing on the wall. In the battle of wits, it is evident that the incumbent ICC boss Shahank Manohar has had the last laugh.

It also proves that the ICC still reigns supreme and member-nations will have no other option but sign on the dotted line. If Srinivasan earlier ensured that his demands were met then it was not because of any individual charisma but because he brought money, loads of it, to ICC coffers. Money power gave him absolute power and he got carried away by it. It was this stranglehold that forced the ICC to actually create the Chairman’s post of which he became the first occupant. Having met his Waterloo, Srinivasan may now feel the heat even in his backyard.