Will the BCCI answer Tendulkar's call?

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. When he fails, India goes down with him. When he dazzles, India at least has a chance to win. Although it was unanimously accepted that he was not the right person to lead the side, it is as unanimously accepted that it is he who powers the side. In days when almost every team in the world has at least a handful of cricketers who have attracted suspicion, Tendulkar remains squeaky clean. Around the world there have been cricketers coming out of self-imposed silence. Manoj Prabhakar has alleged that certain Indian cricketers indulged in matchfixing. Chris Lewis was the England branch of the same school of thought. Rashid Latif in his own inimitable style has been giving the odd press conference and even has a web site that alleges that various players, Pakistani and otherwise, have been involved in fixing matches.

No one, but no one has dared to point a finger at Tendulkar.

The number of times he has been on the field battling for India in the past eleven years are there for all to see. The way he plays his cricket, whether in a Ranji Trophy game or a Test match is proof enough of the man's integrity. Well, other icons have fallen in public opinion in the past. However this is one time when, as a journalist, one is willing to throw caution to the wind and say, "Tendulkar is innocent." If words are to be eaten sometime in the future then so be it.

Breaking his long and cautious silence on the subject of matchfixing, Tendulkar, in an interview to a weekly magazine, was at his forthright best. Naturally, he was asked about Latif's statement that he knew all about matchfixing in Indian cricket. In response, the former captain said "It's not true. And it's not necessary that I react to any person's statements." Although that was very much an expected response, Tendulkar went on to say "It was a shock to me. I was surprised. I was not aware of anything. The only reason I did not speak about it is that I didn't know anything about it. From my point of view, the concerned people, who have taken responsibilty for it (the investigation) are looking into it. I leave it to them."

Then in the middle of everything Tendulkar said something that spoke volumes for the professionalism in his approach.

Asked if he was referring to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the agency responsible for investigating he said "Yes, and the Board. It's their job. My job is to play cricket. Your job is to write. All of us should stick to our jobs."

In the wake of the recent code of conduct established by the BCCI, this will be rather difficult. The code prohibits the captain of the team from speaking to anyone without permission from the manager. Consider this scenario. On a tour, a serious allegation appears from some quarters about one of the players in the team. Suppose this happens on a rest day and the manager is not present at the team hotel. After all, it is only natural that he might have used the opportunity of the rest day to indulge in some sightseeing or shopping. An army of scribes gather at the team hotel. Publication deadlines near and the captain cannot comment because he does not have the permission of the manager. Scribes will go back empty handed, and theoretically will be at liberty to write what they believe. Editors will demand that the story be filed, and the scribe concerned will churn out what he can.

If the captain will not talk to the media, then the media will write what it will. Would the Board prefer that?

How would Sourav Ganguly feel if every newspaper, every web site screamed the headline "Guilty Ganguly refuses to comment" simply because he did not have the manager's permission to deny an allegation?

While all cricket boards are loosening the media noose on players, the BCCI continues to make things increasingly difficult for the Indian team and the media to work together. In the same interview Tendulkar was asked "Do you think the players should be given more freedom to speak their minds?" The force that drives Indian cricket replied "Yes, I do feel that Indian players should have some freedom to speak their minds." Is the BCCI listening? Probably not. After all, that statement was made without the manager's permission.