BCCI mulls using observers in home series

The BCCI is set to extend the practice of intermittently appointing observers with the Indian team on overseas tours, for home series as well.

The role of the observer is not defined with reference to its function and its difference from the role of the manager on tour, who is also a representative of the board. This development also comes when the BCCI has kept national selectors from touring with the team.

When asked if the proposed move of appointing an observer for home series was aimed at pleasing voters, a top BCCI official replied in the negative and added that the board believed the "suggestions and presence" of the observers had helped the team management on the tour of England.

The board had sent three member representatives as observers - Vishal Marwaha, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association secretary, Kapil Malhotra, Cricket Club of India's vice-president and Ravi Jain, Delhi and District Cricket Association's media cell chief - with the team at various stages of the tour.

The BCCI has managed to push for more home games in the next eight-year FTP cycle, which will start after the 2015 World Cup. Over the last decade, the BCCI has preferred not to have a team manager for home games, except from July 2010 to the 2011 World Cup when Ranjib Biswal was appointed. Usually the liaison manager and the logistics manager take care of administrative functions for the team.

The appointment of an observer for overseas tours was only selectively used by various BCCI heads, starting with the Sahara Cup in Toronto in 1997. And the appointment of three observers in England, "all of whom are from demanding or influential members," according to a former BCCI office bearer, came with board elections around the corner.

The HPCA is headed by Anurag Thakur, the BCCI joint secretary and also a leader of the youth wing of India's ruling political party. Jain is a close ally of Arun Jaitley, a union minister who also controls the DDCA. And the CCI is widely believed to be the lone supporter, among the West Zone members, of sidelined BCCI president N Srinivasan who hopes to be re-elected.

Along with the observers staying in the team hotel, it is understood they were also being paid the same daily allowance as the cricketers.