With action having been taken against the players indicted by the
CBI, the focus shifts automatically to the doings -- and wrongdoings -- of
the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
There are two documents that are relevant to such an examination. The
first is the portion of the CBI report wherein the BCCI has been indicted. The
second is the BCCI's own document in defense of the charges, released in
Calcutta in the first week of December.
We propose to examine various charges, and counters, vide these two
documents, over the coming days in a bid to present the true picture.
Thus, here goes with the first in the series:
Briefly, the CBI accuses the BCCI of scheduling far too many ODIs, at the
expense of Tests, in order to make quick money. The BCCI in its defence
says that India does not play an inordinate number of ODIs, that its ODI to
Test ratio is on par with the rest of the world, and that its scheduling is in
strict accordance with the ICC norms on the subject.
For your reference, the ICC norm is that each country should play a
minimum of 12 Tests, and 25 ODIs in a season -- which gives you a yardstick to
compare India's record against that of other countries.
Now for the details:
1) The CBI case against the BCCI: In addition to this is the disproportionate increase in one-day matches being played by India vis-à-vis other Test-playing nations. For example,
in 1999 India played nearly 40 ODIs and is scheduled to play 53 ODIs in the first 13 months of year 2000-2001, which is one of the highest by a Test-playing nation.
The aforesaid factors have contributed to malpractices in two ways:
(a)
the players are more exposed to betting syndicates in non-regular
venues; and
(b) a surfeit of ODIs result in lower levels of motivation for
players who may get a feeling that there is nothing wrong in throwing an
occasional match.
2) The BCCI's arguments in defense:
The observations of CBI that there is 'thoughtless increase in One-Day Internationals' (Page 152) and that, 's Surfeit of ODIs result in lower levels of motivation for players who may get a feeling that there is no harm in throwing an occasional match' are unfortunately devoid of cricketing logic.
The increase in the ODI form of cricket is a global phenomenon and India is not the only country that plays more ODIs than Test matches. The increase in ODIs is not 'thoughtless'. It has been prompted over the years by the Cricket lovers the world over. A keen student of the history of the game would know that the game was once gradually sliding into oblivion because the people did not have the time to watch five day matches. It was ODI cricket that infused competitive spirit and hence, encouraged spectator response.
The ICC has organised a meeting of the Captains of all the Test playing countries regularly since 1997. In the meetings, all the Captains were unanimous about 100 days of cricket in a particular season. The CBI report projects that 'in 1999, India played nearly 40 ODIs and is scheduled ot play 53 ODIs in the first 13 months of the year 2000-2001. In the first place, the first 13 months of 2000-2001 embraces two cricketing seasons. Secondly, the number of days of matches are well within bounds if the quantum of Test Matches and One-day Internationals are considered.
The calendar for the 2000-2001 season is also not accurate because contingency plans had to be taken into account, given the unpredictability of the Indian team's tour of Pakistan. Cricket calendars are usually fixed up by the countries 5 to 6 years in advance. It is however, not the case for India because the Government does not have a definite policy and permissions are granted on tour to tour basis. In case of last minute cancellation of tours, it becomes very difficult to fill up the void because all the other Test playing countries have their commitments lined up.
3) The facts of the case
|
TEST MATCH results since 1-9-1997
|
| |
P |
W |
L |
D |
Australia
England
India
New Zealand
Pakistan
South Africa
Sri Lanka
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh
|
36
35
24
31
35
38
29
32
25
1
140
|
22
10
6
10
11
20
10
9
2
-
100
|
6
13
10
12
11
6
8
18
15
1
100
|
8
12
8
9
13
12
11
5
8
-
43
|
The above table tells its own tale.
First, only Bangladesh, which debuted in November, has played less Tests than India over the period in question. Even countries like Zimbabwe and
Sri Lanka, which do not get the same response from the top nations when it
comes to scheduling Test tours, have played more. And India's record of 24 Tests
played over the three year period is well short of the ICC's norm of 36 @
12 per year.
Do note, moreover, that among the top nations, South Africa has in fact
exceeded the quota and and in the process, shown a real desire to play as many Tests as possible.
Australia is bang on target as per the ICC norms. And England and Pakistan
are short by just one Test apiece, while even New Zealand and the West
Indies are well ahead of India in this respect.
Now for the ODIs:
|
ODI MATCH results since 1-9-1997
|
| |
P |
W |
L |
D |
T |
Australia
Bangladesh
England
India
Kenya
New Zealand
Pakistan
Scotland
South Africa
Sri Lanka
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Total
|
89
26
58
129
25
81
111
5
96
83
69
90
1293
|
58
3
27
64
6
31
58
-
65
42
28
31
413
|
27
23
30
59
19
41
51
5
26
38
38
56
423
|
1
-
1
6
-
8
1
-
3
2
2
2
26
|
3
-
-
-
-
1
1
-
2
1
1
1
10
|
Again, the picture is dramatic: India has played 129 -- which is 54 more
than the ICC norm, 18 more than the next highest in the list, and far more
than the tally for the likes of Australia and South Africa. Figures that
underline the CBI argument, and vehemently refute the BCCI's own defence.
And while on the BCCI's defence, one final word: What precisely does that
body mean by saying that all countries have played more ODIs than Tests?
Of course they would have -- there is no way a country can play more Tests
than ODIs, now is there?
The Series
Part II - International players and their domestic commitments
Part III - Transparency in appointment of coaches and managers
Part IV - A question of appointments
Part V - The Sharjah Syndrome
Part VI - Keeping it in the Rungta family.
Mail Cricket Editor
