MONEY BALL: Short-sightedness Eroding BCCI Gains
A lot can happen in just four months, and a lot which you didn't want happening, especially if you are the richest and most powerful organisation controlling cricket in the world, and is expecting none of it.
It was only on February 1 that the Supreme Court decided to appoint a four-member committee of administrators (CoA) to manage the working of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). The eminent panel, headed by Vinod Rai, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, included cricket historian Ramachandra Guha, former Indian women's cricket captain Diana Edulji, and Vikram Limaye, managing director of Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC). They were entrusted the task of supervising the functioning of the board and cleaning up its act.
And exactly four months to the date, Guha resigned from the panel citing personal reasons such as lack of time. But as would be revealed a day later, he did not go without having written a seven-point letter to Rai, highlighting what he felt were inefficiencies in the functioning of the CoA. Just when one thought that there was some glimmer of hope in sprucing up BCCI's act, this could effectively be a much trickier proposition, especially as Guha has not spared anyone, and raised several issues which are adding to the board's already numerous problems locally and on the international arena.
The biggest of the Big Three, the BCCI ran cricket globally. Since 2014, when this model was implemented to give more share to the Indian body, along with Cricket Australia, and the English counterpart, ECB, there has been much heartburn within other members of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The financial model just lasted three years and the ICC's new plan drastically reduces BCCI's share, though it is still the highest.
While the board and the CoA have been negotiating on getting more than the $293 million being offered to them, on the ground the Indian team has been on a roll, taking full advantage of a long home season and racking up wins and records. But as they say, kissi ka nazar lag gaya. After what was a successful season of bilateral series' and the landmark 10th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a strong Indian contingent was charged up to defend the Champions Trophy in the United Kingdom. The successful combination of captain Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble were all set to take on the world when from nowhere came rumblings of strained ties between the duo, which now reports are suggesting existed from the time Kumble was appointed coach in 2016.
The issue has now become a full-blown controversy and is the only point of discussion even as the Indian team prepares to take on arch rivals Pakistan. As Kumble's term was only for one year, the CoA and BCCI authorities, apart from managing the rift in the middle of an important tournament, now also have the task of finding a new coach. The action has shifted to London, but mostly off the field.
In his letter, Guha draws reference to the Kumble re-appointment fiasco, and highlights the power of superstars in Indian cricket – both current and former players. Kohli, Dhoni, Ganguly, Dravid, Gavaskar are all named for the 'superstar culture' which breeds ‘conflict of interest’, the bane of Indian cricket. While the points raised by Guha are no secret, it only underlines the deep-rooted rot within the organisation and Indian cricket. While one had expected the CoA to weed out much of this, the Pandora’s box opened by Guha will only delay the process of putting some semblance of order.
What all those benefiting monetarily from being associated with BCCI doesn't realise is that the fall from the top spot doesn't take long, as is evident now. While it has taken three decades of sustained growth and one decade of immense wealth from the successful IPL to raise BCCI's stature and increase its power and hold over the game worldwide, a combination of factors that are taking centre stage now are driving it to ruin. On the international front, there will be many having the last laugh as the BCCI steadily works towards its downfall.
IPL is BCCI’s cash cow and with new bids for sponsors and broadcast rights already in the pipeline the current happenings could have an effect on the values that can be raised. To add its woes, Cricket South Africa has two days ago launched the T20 Global League, with ambitions to grow bigger than the IPL. The ECB, in April this year, announced a similar league. CA’s Big Bash is already a success and growing. These are competitors that the IPL can ill afford. With BCCI never allowing its players to participate in other leagues, each of these cricket boards will try to ring-fence their star players from participating in the IPL and thereby reduce its value. This is as good a time as any to do it as they will be emboldened to take on the BCCI when it is paralysed by internal wounds.
The humongous figures that were once bandied about might be difficult to realise. Broadcasters and brands will play safe, or drive a hard bargain. And the huge market that India promises might not be enough to keep the moolah pouring in. The superstars are chasing short-term benefits, but Indian cricket will suffer in the long run. And the long run is not very long, as the last four months have shown.
(This column first appeared in Financial Chronicle on June 3, 2017)