Academy strong enough to overcome current pinpricks

At the inauguration of the National Cricket Academy in May, the chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur hailed it as "the most ambitious scheme that the BCCI, in its long history, has undertaken." There were signs last week that the academy is beginning to sag beneath the burden of a welter of expectations. The recent contretemps which saw three people associated with the project put in their papers has attracted some unwelcome publicity. The close proximity of the departures of NCA Committee member Sunil Gavaskar, coach Vasu Paranjpe and director Hanumant Singh led fertile imaginations to suggest that there was a common thread. Dungarpur however debunked the theory that the public ventilation of grievances between him and Gavaskar was the catalyst for the other two leaving. He pointed out earlier this week that the resignations of both Hanumant and Paranjpe - on personal grounds - which were accepted at an NCA meeting on Friday, had been submitted over two months ago.

In a telephonic conversation with CricInfo from Mumbai on Wednesday, Hanumant Singh admitted that the decision had been in the air for some time although he hadn't made it public. The sprightly 61-year-old who seemed so enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead when he spoke to CricInfo in October said, "I am still enthusiastic but not directly involved". He agreed that it was unsatisfying to part ways at this stage after having guided the academy through its formative period. Asked whether it was a difficult decision to make, Hanumant said 'it was and it wasn't'. "You can't continue if you can't give it all your time and attention", he said, adding that he had nevertheless offered his services to the NCA in any capacity.

There have been conflicting statements made about the choice of a successor to Hanumant. The name of Brijesh Patel, secretary of the KSCA and member of the NCA commitee, was floated in media reports. BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele was quoted by agencies to the effect that Patel would take over Hanumant's duties 'in all probability'. The irrepressible Dungarpur however dismissed these as 'wild speculations'. "I don't think Brijesh Patel is in a position to accept it as he already has his hands full being the secretary of KSCA. Where will he have the time? Being secretary of a state association is a lot of work and requires a whole lot of coordination and time", he said in Mumbai on Monday.

Patel himself was quoted by the Press Trust of India in Bangalore on Tuesday as saying, "It is still a rumour to me, but if it comes true, I will grab the opportunity". He also added "it will be easy to monitor and take stock of the proceedings" by virtue of being secretary of the KSCA, which hosts the academy. However the last word is likely to belong to the two Marshes, Rodney and Geoff, who are both assisting the Board in a consultative capacity. They will be assigned the task of preparing a shortlist during a coaches seminar next February following which the decision is to be announced.

Voices have been raised, suggesting that the turn of events spell a crisis for the academy. It would be too premature to jump to such a conclusion. In its short existence, the NCA has grown into an institution strong enough to withstand the parting of individuals. It is inevitable that the gates of the academy will witness traffic in either direction but as long as the system, and the underlying philosophy, remains intact, there is little ground for alarm. The present events are just minor pinpricks in the NCA's development and it should not be difficult to find another ruling dispensation to serve it with as much distinction as the present one did.