Cricket: hurt and retired

The internecine squabbles of cricket's administrators have opened up a new can of worms and begun to overshadow the misdeeds of the players. The focus has gradually shifted from the problem - match-fixing - to questionable deals in bidding, negotiating and awarding television rights. VIJAY LOKAPALLY on the ongoing controversy.

WHEN DID cricket become a television sport. Snooker yes, but cricket? Why else would there be such fierce trading of allegations on matters relating to telecast rights of international cricket matches. Why else would the boss of international cricket come under scrutiny. The allegations against Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, author of the globalisation of cricket, have in fact attracted more media attention in recent days than the match-fixing scandal.

The game has been `hit' for a six and the terminators are rising from within. The root cause of this sickening tale is said to be the rise and fall of two production units involved in the telecast of international matches in the subcontinent. There is too much money at stake and thus too much competition to grab it.

The internecine squabbles of the administrators have opened a new can of worms and begun to overshadow the misdeeds of the players. The focus has gradually shifted from the main problem - match- fixing - to questionable deals in bidding, negotiating and awarding television rights.

Even as the CBI conducts its inquiry involving players in match- fixing, the ugly facet of the game's administration has surfaced in such a telling manner that one shudders to imagine what lies at the bottom of this evil pit.

Corruption has embraced cricket in such an overwhelming manner that every dawn heralds a new controversy, a new allegation and more degeneration, as accusations are made from new quarters. The issue of cricket's corruption has not been allowed to retreat to the inside pages.

The match-fixing opera has dominated various studios and reams have been published on the subject the world over. We are still waiting for claims to be substantiated by evidence. One cricketer accuses another and a noted administrator travels any distance to convince people that cricket is no more a noble game.

True cricket's transition from a sport to an industry has been rapid and at the root of this transformation lies the revenue earned by the telecast. The more the telecast, the more the inflow into the coffers of the game's administration. The more the money, the more the jostling for grabbing a major chunk of the booty. As a result, we have a set of administrators who have taken the fight to the streets literally with little regard for the repercussions.

The latest scandal to hit the world of cricket has made a shattering impact indeed on the minds of its followers. The alleged involvement of the International Cricket Council (ICC) president, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, in the awarding of telecast rights for the mini world cup at Dhaka in 1998 have cast a shadow on the fair functioning of the game's apex body.

The telecast scam is just about beginning to assume monstrous proportions, even as Mr. Arun Agarwal, a former financial adviser appointed by Prasar Bharti, targets Mr. Dalmiya as the main culprit in the entire episode which also involves a few others.

Mr. Agarwal dropped a bombshell when he accused Mr. Dalmiya of ``defrauding'' Doordarshan and causing it a loss of $ 4 million in the telecast rights for the Dhaka tournament. Mr. Agarwal also named WorldTel, a production company, as a partner in the scandal and did not rule out the connivance of some DD officials. The year-old report was being made public by Mr. Agarwal in ``national interest'' even as the ICC grappled with the match- fixing scandal.

What has perplexed many is the stunning speed with which the ICC chief executive, Mr. Dave Richards, cleared Mr. Dalmiya of any wrong-doing at its emergency meeting in London on May 2. A week later, however, reports emanating from London engulfed Mr. Dalmiya again as some members of the ICC have sought to reopen the issue.

The reports clearly indicated discontent among the members at the manner in which the issue was dealt with and there were suggestions that the ICC would not be averse to studying Mr. Agarwal's report. There have been conflicting claims by Mr. Dalmiya in the media over the extent to which he had been involved in the negotiations of the said telecast deal and this has led to speculation.

Mr. Agarwal claims he is armed with evidence and questions Mr. Dalmiya's right to negotiate television deals in his capacity as ICC president. He also talks of the ICC's Development International Limited having an account in the British Virgin Islands. His charges cannot be dismissed as trivial.

The technicalities of the deal may not be easily understood by a layman and that is reason enough to expect a thorough investigation by an appropriate agency to get to the bottom of this scandal.

Mr. Agarwal is not alone in his battle against Mr. Dalmiya. A former Board president, Mr. I. S. Bindra, has launched a crusade against the ICC president and has vowed to fight to the finish. Unsparing in his mission, Mr. Bindra has trained his guns on the players too but has pointedly targeted the officials. In his opinion, the players are mere pawns and the real culprits are among the administrators.

Many may not agree with Mr. Bindra's methods but he seems to be focussing on keeping the issue alive. The players and the administrators have participated in a mad mudslinging exercise for quite some time now. As they lie grieving and bleeding from the fierce assault from all corners, the image of the game begs to be restored its glory.

What a tragedy! Cricket fields these days have become deserted as the stars have gone underground and officials avoid any discussion. Even as new names are dragged into the murky world of match-fixing, a nation watches the anguish of its cricketing icon as he breaks down like a child on the small screen. It is disturbing that no official has shed a tear for the deterioration of Indian cricket's image.

The author of cricket's globalisation programme is now being criticised in his own country, not to forget the reported discontent among the ICC officials, namely those from England and New Zealand. Police, CBI, lawyers, and the Comptroller and Auditor General have become part of the cricket circuit, not to forget the bookies and punters. The Warnes, Waughs and Cronjes have become the past as the officials have now joined the corruption brigade. It is sheer madness, thanks to the arrival of these monsters with television cameras to give the game a different look. They brought lots of money but loads of trouble too.

The game's credibility has taken a severe beating and will probably need a different set of officials and television cameras to regain its place. The ICC certainly owes the game a bright dawn and a clean atmosphere.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : Jaffna, a symbol of Ealam war
Next     : The ball is in the CBI's court