Cricket Crazy...

Mohan Kalyanasundaram in his article "Is this an Indian or BCCI XI?" on rediff.com writes this -

It is time we have a true democratic process built into the selection of Indian cricket, first the selectors and then the Indian team. If our cricket team needs to play with our Indian flag and be competitive then every Indian should have a voice in the selection of selectors and team. If this is going to be decided by the BCCI then the team should play under the BCCI flag and should not use the Indian flag and name.
Read it full...

Interesting. A very explosive option indeed. I could not stop laughing on the idea of 50 Crore Indians voting to select the Indian team. [ Records says clearly that only 50% registered voters exercises their rights in elections. Thats why I have used 50 Crore figure]

Still I would agree with him on some of his points. Let me list them out.

Who is Vengsarkar to decide about the composition of the Indian team, when he himself has not played too many one-day games and has never been responsible for winning even a single one-day series?

Agreed. We should do away with the regional quota system in the selection committee at the first place. Next, all the selectors should have a certain minimum qualification in terms of no of international matches played and performance in them. Again they should be well aware of domestic cricket. The raw talent is all there in those small towns and cities of country.
If such selector could not be found, then the selection process should be given to qualified managers. May be a through case-study type of selection process might help in tapping the potential players at right time. I am sure it would be much better than that favoritism selection practices of current system.

What kind of a national interest does BCCI serve when it is taking tax exemption? Why should BCCI enjoy the monopoly status?

It is really unfortunate that BCCI is still enjoying tax exemptions and other benefits from the government. It is the biggest and richest cricket board in the world. When aam aadmi is pressed to pay tax on every penny of his hard earned money, how can you justify such a discrimination? They should come under company laws or should pay taxes like any others corporate. Actually BCCI needs a makeover to corporate image. Its a high time the politicians give way to qualified managers and consultants for the managing and financial aspects of the board. And please give the sports part to the players.

Monopoly of BCCI is something which is kinda good for the game. If there are various boards at the national level, then the game of cricket would surely suffer the politics played by them. We have seen it all at the state levels.