The tensions that currently exist between the Indian board and other members of the cricket-playing world have been laid bare by IS Bindra, the former President of the BCCI, who has issued a scathing response to an article by the veteran Australian journalist and Indophile, Mike Coward.
Writing in The Australian on Saturday, Coward accused the Indian administrators of "brash and bolshy [behaviour that] beggars belief", and suggested that the BCCI was aiming to use its "obscene" wealth to usurp the ICC as the game's ruling body. "India must decide whether it wishes to remain a part of the international cricket family," he intoned. "It is as fundamental as that."
The BCCI might have been tempted to let such trenchant opinions pass by unnoticed, but coming from Coward - a man whom Bindra has "known for over two decades ... and respect[ed] for his invariably temperate views" - they instead felt compelled to respond in kind. In doing so, they have given a fascinating insight into the sort of conflicts that hitherto have been taking place only at boardroom level.
"He has just poured his venom and vitriol," wrote Bindra, after Coward accused his organisation of caring only for "naked ambition and the power of the purse". "I really wonder what is it that we have done to invite his unbridled ire," he continued. "I am both amused and aghast at some of his objectionable observations."
In particular, Bindra bridled at Coward's use of the word "bolshy" - a word that once had left-wing connotations, but now is more commonly used as a synomym for "obstreperous" or "stroppy". Ironically, it soon becomes clear that both alternatives would aptly describe his response.
"As students of history both Mike and I have read and understood Marx, Lenin and the Bolsheviks well, I think," continued Bindra. "How can the Indian Board be Bolshy when he is accusing us of using our money power to control the game! Is it his argument that we have unleashed a terror against upper classes or what he says countries like England and Australia? We Indians are passionate about cricket, but that doesn't mean we wish or talk ill of others."
Bindra insisted he didn't want to extend the Marxist dogma further "lest it is interpreted using dangerous analogies", but then ploughed on regardless. "How can cricket or even India survive without the countries which he insinuates we are out to subjugate? Yes, in a way he is right, like Bolsheviks our Board is full of revolutionary ideas as we believe in equality and we want every cricket-playing nation to prosper by replicating the Indian system so that cricket becomes a truly global sport. To call us imperialists sounds funny as we have never showed the imperiousness of absolute monarchs!"
The next meeting of the ICC executive board takes place in Mumbai on November 3 and 4. "It is bound to be one of the most rancorous meetings in the ICC's 97-year history," wrote Coward, who even questioned whether the organisation would still be standing by the end of it all. Bindra, however, insisted the game would survive what he termed these "aberrations and hiccups", although his wider response did little to allay any pre-meeting concerns.
"[The] ICC is not grinning and bearing it, it is the other way round," wrote Bindra. "It wants us to accept all its unreasonable diktats. The ICC may have made itself impotent and irrelevant, but the day it addresses all the issues raised not only by us but a host of others, it will be a vibrant apex body for international cricket. We are looking at a buoyant cricket world, not indulging in what he calls in any brinkmanship."
Coward pulls no punches in his forthright article, suggesting that the Indian board is reaping what was sown several decades ago by an Anglo-centric ICC whose "imperialist, paternalistic prattle [was] at best, dismissive and culturally elitist and, at worst, racist". But Bindra dismissed this notion. "We have long forgotten that as a bad dream," he wrote. "I don't know how many minds he has studied in the subcontinent to come up with such a profound psycho-analysis."
On his colleague, Lalit Modi, whom many critics of the BCCI single out as the most abrasive influence in the current dispute, Bindra was disarmingly honest. "[Coward] is obviously referring to [Modi's] excessive zeal and volatility he occasionally exhibits when the other side is refusing to see reason." For the sake of the game, here's hoping some reason can be reached at Mumbai next week.
Comments
Posted by: Noviceguru on 10/24/2006
I find the current situation laughable & serious. The ICC must accept that they need Indian cricket & Indian cricket should accept they need the ICC. In the long term both can feed & benefit from each other. It can be a truly symbiotic relationship BUT the ICC needs to take it's heads out of the sand & see why Indian cricket are now in a position to dictate to sponsors & media (TV) alike. The long & short is the ICC must also accept the days of the empire are long gone. Cricket playing countries from the sub-continent are no-longer push-overs, they have a right to their views & opinions & have every right to push for it. Come on ICC - wake up and smell the coffee.
Posted by: Kunal K on 10/24/2006
I support Bindra because what Coward said is really one track minded. It makes the BCCI look like an organization that is set to take over world cricket whereas all that this BCCI administration is doing is protecting its own turf.
At the end of the day lets not forget where the heart and money of cricket lies....in India.
It is about time that some 'revolutionary' people like bindra and modi take on ICC over issues that India has been unfairly treated on keeping in mind its contribution to this game.
Posted by: Derek Reynolds on 10/24/2006
Bindra's comments are the rantings of a trainee megalomaniac. The BCCI is a power-drunk organisation and Coward is right to issue such a stern warning. It's laughable that they are unable to accept criticism, and God help the world game if Modi gets "bolshy" at the board meeting next week ...
Posted by: Raghu Rao on 10/24/2006
The article by coward has one message, simple it is money and power. The suffere is cricket. Mr dalmia to Pawar they are all after money and self gain.
What has BCCI done for domestic cricket? Zero. Our player will perform only docile pitches and BCCI will make money.
All those cricket fan ( Me too included) are stupid to pay and watch the masala cricket. while our politician will make money and use for personal gain.
In my opnion audios to indian cricket. Its gone into wrong hands.
Raghu Rao
Posted by: arjun on 10/24/2006
Mike Coward is spot on - the Indian board smells of the unpalatable combination of both greed and chips on shoulders. Faced with the wall-of-sound approach of Lalit Modi and his ill informed cheerleaders, the ICC are caught between the misguided flag waving of the Indian board and the need to actually get events run and rights sold. This is no longer about race, this is about professionalism - something that the BCCI abhor.
Posted by: Imtiaz on 10/24/2006
India is indeed using its financial muscle. But so would anyone else in its place. Business realities will eventually sink in; to continue with the bolshy analogy, even in its hey-day, the joke went, communism would need one capitalist country; otherwise how would it know the price of a good.
Cricket, thankfully, is only popular as an international sport. I am not sure how many would watch Mumbai playing Karnataka for ever. Even India - Pakistan lost its charm eventually.
Posted by: Steve Bailey on 10/24/2006
It's obvious that the BCCI will play the tired old race card at any opportunity to disguise the fact that they are driven by greed. Fear of being labelled racist will be used as a somkescreen for the BCCI to replace the ICC and when they do, God help cricket. Endless ODI tournaments and to hell with anyone outside the main half dozen countries.
Posted by: Raja Pradeep on 10/24/2006
It would help if all parties were to discard entrenched positions and dated attitudes and concentrate on what they could achieve if for instance, the financial acumen of the Indian board were coupled with the Australian's traditional strengths in coaching and administration. Cricket would then, truly becomes a global sport.
Posted by: Priyanka on 10/24/2006
India is the Super power of World Cricket.That is because of its market which attracts MNC's, not our current BCCI Officials.
Performence of BCCI Officials become clear when we find there is no Media Manager, No Communication Manger or No CEO.Not a single officials are available for giving information to Media and Circket Lover.All are running behind Million Dollars not Cricket.
Posted by: anipaul on 10/24/2006
Why does the world put up with the USA? Not because its fair and just and a shining beacon to the rest of the world, but because its the indisputed superpower. Noone else comes close. Its not about fairness, unfairness, ethics and other earnest qualities. Its reality.
Posted by: Madhusudan on 10/24/2006
There is no doubt that BCCI is just a greedy and power hungry organisation. The way BCCI schedules matches in Malaysia/Dubai will only kill interest in India. All this racism stuff is hardly an excuse. BCCI is a corrupt money making organisation full of politicians and businessmen loking to make more money for themselves. Who cares about cricket or the "good of the game"
Posted by: Ven on 10/24/2006
What Bindra is trying to say doesn't make any sense. I'm with Coward. At the moment it looks like India doesn't want to obey anything that ICC says because it has got the power which comes from money. They are not even bothered to respect the governing body for all the international cricket i.e. ICC. It's such a shame for all of us. Just because someone from ICC displayed some imperialsitic views in the past, India shoud not reciprocate the same. The BCCI is not representing the views of all Indians here. Indians support the cricket more than anyone in the world and what are we getting in return and where are we in cricket now....not anywhere close to top and will never be there as long as money is the motive for playing (both for BCCI n Players).....
Posted by: Paul Stedman on 10/24/2006
The BCCI is a joke. With its absolute millions tucked away, one must ask...what is the mjoney being spent on?? Mike Coward is right. It is about the ego maniacs looking after themselves. Any touring team that travels to India is faced with deplorable practice pitches, poor pitches for matches and antiquated grounds. If the BCCI spent as much money on facilities, then the Indian team would be extrmely formidable away from home as they are at home as they would be used to playing on quality grounds. Also, a fully accountable boad undeprinned by structured domestic competition and youth training programs would enusre a strong India team which is good for international cricket. Agree with anipaul, too many ODI's for short term gain.
Posted by: Rahul on 10/25/2006
In a nutshell....ICC says "Look, we know you are rich. Now sign on all the agreements
however unacceptable to you. And yes, we have the power to change all these agreements ever.
WIthout this you cannot cohost the world cup.
Without this you are isolated.Then they add" Stop blackmailing the ICC!!!!"
It is the ICC blackmailing BCCI.
Where were all these people when only Australia and England had the veto power?
Posted by: Bhaskar on 10/25/2006
It's so refreshing to watch so many comments on this subject correctly identifying the real nature of the issue.
Yes, like many others I feel too that BCCI has nothing else in mind but to make more money - for whom though?
Not for the players... not for the future of local or world cricket.
I shudder to realize that BCCI is heading for a parallel organization to ICC. In my mind that will be BAD for cricket. Mr. Power and his cricket-illiterate supporters are trying their best to bring down a great Institution in BCCI - in turn affecting good cricket around the world. This current conflict is just another example.
My loss of course... so I, in my limited capacity, am NOT going to spend single Paisa (cent) towards any fund that has a remote possibility to end-up in BCCI pocket. The resistance should start somewhere… all you advertisers… are you listening?
A sorry faced Indian
:(
Posted by: Mohan on 10/25/2006
I find the anti-BCCI sentiment expressed here (both by CI articles and the comments) quite surprising. Sure, BCCI is interested in money, but what is wrong with it? This is business, not some charity. Is ICC any less interested in money? We need to remember that ICC and all the other boards are looting hundreds of millions of dollars every year from *Indian* market. I see no reason why we should allow this to continue. Let the money generated from Indian market stay within India. It is high time BCCI takes over world cricket.
Posted by: Murali on 10/25/2006
I fully endorse Bindra's views. ICC has to take BCCI into confidence because of the money and the watching power that Indian board brings to the game. BCCI without ICC is similar to UN without the US. The US controls the UN through the money power that they contribute to the UN coffers and I think there is nothing wrong in BCCI doing the same. No wonder you see the Champions Trophy and the World Cup being held in the subcontinent frequently and not in England and Australia
Posted by: sumit kumar on 10/25/2006
There is a reality staring the ICC in the face which they refuse to acknowledge hoping it will go away.India generates 70% of the revenue in world cricket.Which means every voucher these gentleman in the ICC fudge,70% of the funds come from India,and he who pays the piper calls the tune.Also cricket was taken to the far corners of the world when Dalmiya was the ICC chief,not any of the present bunch of lawyers.
Posted by: michael D on 10/25/2006
Well said Mike Coward, a well respected cricket journalist with a deep understanding of the game. The BCCI under Dalmiya and now Powar and his fellow cohorts are a complete joke....power hungry and greedy individuals, who hide behind the racist card whenever they are challenged. Think of this....why does a once creditable Zimbabwean team still exist in world cricket....because their vote at ICC meetings is a valuable and guaranteed one for the BCCI...a sad fact....but true... Power and greed are the motives of these pathetic administrators....if they are so great administrators, why does the richest cricket organisation, the BCCI, still provide thirdrate ground facilities...the Indian and the cricket public in general deserve better.
Posted by: Vijaykumar on 10/25/2006
Many of the comments given here are critical of BCCI. I dont really understand why to be critical of BCCI. BCCI is not India and Indian people.It is the Indian wealth and Indian prosperity which is making the MNCs to make a beeline into India. the life made a full circle. the ICC which was anglo centric refuses to believe or see the writing on the wall that it is India and only India which is a super power as far as cricket is concerned and the ICC is being run and in fact so many of the cricket boards with the sum that Indian people are pouring .
Posted by: KSINGH on 10/25/2006
I hope the people critical of BCCI on this post are aware of GCC which organised ICC events in last 10 years. Who owns and runs GCC?. Murdochs and Peckers. Pecker was a villain a couple of decades back. The situation will get murkier as BCCI wants to run for rights to host next ICC events. GCC won't like this because BCCI will beat their bid hands down and Speed & co are their agents in ICC, they are\will try their best to avert this.
Posted by: Nirbhay Singh on 10/27/2006
Well as is expected in this sadly continuing polarisation of the world, fiery/ incindeary aticles are leading to extreme views by the readers as well.
While I can understand the emotional quotient of the readers I am disappointed with Andrew Miller's article on Bindra. Why he has to dwell for such a large chunk of his piece on Bindra's interpretation of "bolshy" I do not know. There is also a distinct undercurrent of criticism of Bindra in particular and the BBCI at large. Also a very clever and subtle view that the BCCI is/ will create trouble for the ICC and that all should beware of the big bad wolf.
Thus it would seem that he has come out in favour of Mr.Coward in a nuanced manner without really going in to the real issues at stake.
I find this disappointing as journalists especially of such a reputable organsiation should dish out quality fare and not be partial to "flavouring" which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Andrew Miller disappoints and on this one occasion so does Cricinfo.
In this context I would like to draw all concerend to an excellent article by Tim De Lisle in Cricinfo much before this tiff between BCCI and the ICC gained so much momentum. I forget the details but it was something to the effect that the BCCI was the wolf which was the proverbial big and not so bad or not so good one, and that the ICC wasn't the sweet innocent Red Riding Hood either!
Posted by: debiso on 10/28/2006
The bottom line is that the BCCI is too smart to let the ICC outsmart it. In all probability BCCI will get the broadcasting rights as it will beat the other bids hands down.No point seeing anything else in the issue that is being raked up. It's money game.The esteemed journalists giving their comments are either too naive or expecting us to be too naive... Ha Ha Ha..
Posted by: A.Jindal on 10/29/2006
This is the right way to respond. Straight and simple. One should be talked to in the language which is understandable to that individual.
You ask for trouble by writing such comments. Bingo.....you hit a jackpot.
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