CBI should target not only players, but also officials

Even as the focus in the match fixing allegations has all along been mainly on the players, what is perhaps also needed at this juncture is a thorough probe into the affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. As the scope of the CBI inquiry ordered by the Government indicates, it is not the cricketers alone who will be under scrutiny. Like the players, the BCCI administration itself should also looked into. Indeed, this is what the Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa has said while replying to clarifications in the Rajya Sabha.

Former BCCI chief IS Bindra had said in an interiew to a web site in 1999 that "I am not saying that betting does not go on. In fact, I will go so far as to say some of our administrators indulge in illegal betting. I can say that the players are not involved in match-fixing. I wish I can say the same for Indian cricket administrators". The Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Ratnakar Shetty, taking the lead from IS Bindra's statement, has said "this is a serious charge. Why should only the conduct of the players be inquired into? If Bindra can provide evidence, let the CBI inquire into the administrators' role also".

Bindra in an interview to a TV programme on Sunday has said again "if the role of players is five percent, the role of administrators is 95 percent..If administrators are strict, then match-fixing cannot take place. It is very difficut, a one in a million chance. But if you shut your eyes and ears or join in, then its very easy.''

Therefore it is quite possible that corruption at various levels is on the increase. The match fixing and betting scandal would not have assumed such gigantic proportions had the administrators been prudent while scheduling the tour itenarary. For, they own the responsibility of sending the Indian team to various places across the globe for some kind of 'masala' matches in places where betting is widely prevalent - all in the name of globalisation.

As events in the match fixing allegations unfolded, they seemed to suggest that the players and the officials might have collabarated to indulge in such acts. Therefore it is not right to project the players alone as villains. In this context, one has to take into account the recent verbal duels between ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya and Bindra. There have also been accusations of some 'dubious deals' in television rights.

Outlook magazine, in its February 28th issue, quoting the financial details taken from the annual reports of the BCCI showed that while the profits of the board was swelling, the amount spent on coaching was a meagre 1.1 percent of their earnings of 16 crores. They were also spending Rs. 1.5 crore on travel and other expenses which is nearly nine times the amount spent on coaching our cricketers. On the other hand, the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) over the last nine years has spent 250 per cent more in travel than the total expenditures on promotion of cricket and coaching. These figures were obtained from the BCCI annual report.

There have also been reports of allegations that two major soft drinks companies were interefering with the affairs of the board and the players earlier in 1999 over sponsorship and logo deals.

If the board had concentrated on the welfare of the players and development of the game instead of just making money, things would not have gone beyond their control. With the current scenario where every player and official - and indeed every match that has been played - being looked at with suspicion, the game in India is the ultimate loser.

Therefore, it would be just and proper that the CBI and the government should conduct a probe into the affairs of the BCCI, and the administrators as well as the players. There has been a demand from both players and officials that the probe should be time bound. This is welcome as it will prevent those involved in indulging in any cover up activity. This is the need of the hour to save the game from further decay.