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Who cares about cricket?


Chandan

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link Kadambari Murali April 13, 2007 First Published: 01:29 IST(13/4/2007) Last Updated: 01:37 IST(13/4/2007) In the shadowy, subterranean world of Indian cricket, plot and counter plot have traditionally been the order of the day. It is almost medieval court-like in the machinations that go on, a world of incredibly high stakes, of big money and bigger egos, a place where subterfuge and intrigue lend a cutting edge to a dramatic play for power. It has always been this way and life has gone on. But when you factor in the new powerbrokers ? an almost bloodthirstily competitive media, with every channel, paper or website battling for a scoop and ready to lend a ear and a platform to anyone who wants one, it can make for a deadly cocktail, one that creates a right royal mess. We?re all guilty of reading too much into India?s early World Cup exit, which was unfortunately, an inevitable reality check. Just look at the world?s best team. Australia are not world champions because they play quality cricket in 10 matches once in four years. They?re world champions because they play quality cricket right through those four years. The World Cup is just another tournament (albeit a very important one). India reached the finals once 24 years ago but barring the couple of years that followed, they?ve failed to set the world on fire. We?ve never been No 1, nor even really No 2. The No 6 we are at right now is really an honest reflection of where we stand. Having said that, we did expect India to make the Super Eights so the fallout of the Cup debacle was expected to be sour ? but not sordid, like this fortnight has been. Rumors, speculation, gag orders (only for players, BCCI officials can say and do as they like) and diktat after BCCI diktat has followed. From endorsements to old hands (or legs), rifts to ruses, everything but the BCCI?s own system has been blamed for the disaster. Take this one by one. There?s been a directive from the BCCI brass that a young team be selected for upcoming tours. Well, India was one of the youngest teams at the Cup, only older than Bangladesh among the main teams (and they are at a different stage of their cricketing evolution). Secondly, what youngsters are we talking about? Dilip Vengsarkar was harsh but not far off-base when he said that there was not much exceptional talent in the wings. Unless you pick a team based on under-19 performances (which is no indicator of how they?ll do in a man?s world, even if you forget about how many overage players manage to play the junior events), you?ll find it tough to find five stand-out players on the domestic circuit who are under-25. Just go through the averages. The fault here is not the players?, we have a flawed system. Then, the endorsements. Not long ago, before the tour to South Africa, the BCCI had asked top players to skip their respective Duleep Trophy games to facilitate the Board?s commitments to its sponsors. Six months later, in some nifty grandstanding, they?ve passed a directive making it mandatory for all the players to play in that same event. One point here. Most people have weekends off from each year (104 days) plus other leave. What we do in that time is really our own business. So why shouldn?t it be that way for an Indian cricketer? In this regard, the Board is talking about how important it is for players to make time for practice. How can they? Take a look at the schedules. While players are protesting too many games, why has the Board organised three games against South Africa in Ireland this summer? Well, to fulfill the sale of their overseas television commitments. And worse, the seven-match series against Australia at home later, when the domestic season kicks off. Even though they seem to have toned down the hardline stance on Wednesday, it might be too late to regain trust. They?ve successfully messed up relationships by publicly humiliating top players time and again. Rahul Dravid was publicly warned when he commented angrily on yet another leaked report (from the team manager on the SA tour). Instead of investigating the leak (which they found ?interesting?) the Board warned the captain. Tendulkar (and Yuvraj) was publicly admonished for speaking out even as Board officials queued up to happily take potshots at the players, who are barred from responding. Having said that, the players are guilty too ? there is no active players? body in place simply because they don?t stand by each other. And that suits this Board completely. After all, the removing of seniors means that no one of any standing would be left to protest, no one would dare. And the Board brass will be the undisputed lords of the ring. As for the cricket itself, who cares? ------------------------------------------------------------- What a superb article!!
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Re: Who cares about cricket? And are the fans not at fault? How many of the fans think that our system should improve if we are to witness good cricket from India? How many of them find the board at faults for not improving despite having overflowing coffers? How many of them are willing to accept that the players we have now and have had in past are despite the system and not because of the system? Have they ever thought that Indian cricket might not be lucky always to get those kind of players in future too?

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Re: Who cares about cricket?

And are the fans not at fault? How many of the fans think that our system should improve if we are to witness good cricket from India? How many of them find the board at faults for not improving despite having overflowing coffers? How many of them are willing to accept that the players we have now and have had in past are despite the system and not because of the system? Have they ever thought that Indian cricket might not be lucky always to get those kind of players in future too?
I'm happy to accept that but would also like to point out the rest of the cricket boards from around the world is no better either. Only Australia, England and to certain extent New Zealand have had professional running of the cricket board. The accountability was pretty much absent in the old days and that didn't stop the West Indies to produce the world beaters in the 70s or 80s. I can understand India not getting there at the top for too long but I would not like to just point my finger at BCCI for the lack of world beaters in the side. Pakistan was a fantastic team in the late 80s and in the 90s despite lack of good domestic structure, professional cricket board but they did it on individual capacity and a fantastic leader in Imran Khan. India did that too in the 80s under Kapil Dev and Gavaskar. Now Australia did invest heavily in facilities, grass root and the rest. Now they have no dearth of players. The yard stick in Australia is not talent but the emphasis is on maximizing ability. Why is that Australia have a chinaman bowler like Hogg but not India? Simply because the coaches in India follow the MCC coaching manual by heart and won't let anything unorthodox blossom. The Indian selectors, the board, the people including the fans are always on the look out for the next Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid or Kapil Dev. They don't go around looking for say Anil Kumble, Robin Singh or say even Dinesh Karthik. The Indian people want replicas of the past greats and that is not going to happen. The idea of picking players to play for the country is absolutely misplaced among the Indian selectors. If they are looking for a terrific once in a life talent it is not going to happen. Put together a good bunch of physically and mentally strong players that play tough cricket and they will sure produce results. I still don't understand what Vengsarkar meant when he says there is lack of talent in India without giving a single new comer an opportunity. I would like to know when was the last time a new face was chosen under this new selection committee. I can't recall one since Vengsarkar took over. As for future development if they are still going to perfect their players to play that glorious cover drive as prescribed by the MCC coaching manual they are not going to improve despite better facilities. The job of the administrators is to bring in money for the sport. You can't expect them to sit and discuss how to play cricket. That simply is not their field of expert. The administrators have to fill the coffers, there is no second thought about it. That is where their jobs start and end. Now the cricket experts should be given chance to handle the rest of the affairs though. I'm pretty sure say a Kapil Dev cannot do a job of an administrator's and bring in funds. What he can do the best of course is develop young players and impart his knowledge on them. I've seen him on TV in one of those cricketing soaps that comes on Zee TV. Why is he involved in that? Simply because he is paid well enough to be involved. Unless the cricket board goes and hires paid specialists the cricket simply is not going to improve. Make Gavaskar or Kapil Dev pitch committee head or something without really paying them anything, you get nothing out of them and you can't even question their commitment to the post. If the board requires accountability they have to engage these experts on a paid salary. That will bring in commitment, accountability and we will see new faces that are capable of being the world beaters. Also they should do some kind of induction for these players when they first start on domestic cricket. I don't know who coaches the domestic cricket but like Australia, England or New Zealand the coaching jobs in the local domestic cricket should be opened to people outside India. I'm sure we will then see a Ranatunga coaching say Bombay and Wasim Akram coaching Delhi. There are a lot of things that could be done but all the media does is point fingers either at BCCI or at the players. Unfortunately these fellas don't really take pain enough to know how cricket is run or what the minute details in the sport are. Just like our players that just play for the sake of playing these guys write for the sake of writing.
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Re: Who cares about cricket? Ravi, How is one going to understand if the player is strong mentally or not till he is tested completely? In the present domestic cricket where we have 27 team competing for a trophy, how many teams have good 11 players? Out of the 500 FC players representing various states, how many can even dream of playing for nation? Why do we have such a poor system? Is BCCI not to blame there? Why has the board not adopted a professional working system for itself? Why have they not appointed a CEO, a cricket director and financial directors for themselves? Why are the jobs not streamlined? Why is the NCA not functional for 7 months of a year? Why are proper facilities like good pitch and ground not provided to players right from the grass root level? Why do we have politicians and industrialists pouring in for the post of BCCI who obviously are not interested in cricket or the development of the game in the country??? Who is responsible for this? Not BCCI?

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Re: Who cares about cricket? Chandan, they only care about money. Indians can't be bothered to improve on anything if the status-quo works for them. The adage, Hota hai, chalta hai - sums up their mindset. As long as there are a substantial # of people who pay to watch cricket, the BCCI won't realise the need to improve the system.

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Re: Who cares about cricket? Ravi makes good points. BCCI cant be blamed for minting money. Hey we dont know how important this is, only because we have it in plenty. The other thread on WI's practice facilities says it all. If u dont have much in the coffers, u cant even put together a system thats competitive. Minting money & developing cricket are not mutually exclusive. Why are our arm chair critics (ex-cricketers) not helping the BCCI. They are happy to be part of ESPN commentary teams, but wont assume a role in the BCCI which is their for the taking ? BCCI admins cant be relied up on to refine our cricket. Our past cricketers must help them do that. And no system can produce players with hunger. That has to come from within. What system does Bangladesh have than India doesnt ? Does SL have a better infrastructure than us ? After a long time they have done a few things right. Abolishing zonal systems, endorsement reforms, stress on youth etc all make sense. For once, i think BCCI is being unfairly criticized.

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Re: Who cares about cricket? Harsha made some good points in his article. The first few exams that we took in our life were the most influential ones & perhaps the toughest ones. The results in these exams changed our life forever. Even in cricket, the same must be true. The first few teams a player represents must be hardest to break into. It shouldnt be possible to play for a state team, because u happen to play under the right coach or the right academy. 27 teams does dilute the competition a whole lot. 10 teams would do.

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Re: Who cares about cricket?

Ravi makes good points. BCCI cant be blamed for minting money. Hey we dont know how important this is, only because we have it in plenty. The other thread on WI's practice facilities says it all. If u dont have much in the coffers, u cant even put together a system thats competitive.
Bumper, But the problem is that BCCI is not willing to put the money back in cricket. the stadiums, the facilities even at the FC level, what to talk of at the club level or grass root level is extremely poor. So whats the point of money if your infra-structure is still poor, facilities still bad?
Minting money & developing cricket are not mutually exclusive. Why are our arm chair critics (ex-cricketers) not helping the BCCI. They are happy to be part of ESPN commentary teams, but wont assume a role in the BCCI which is their for the taking ? BCCI admins cant be relied up on to refine our cricket. Our past cricketers must help them do that.
Ex players are ready to help the cricket system but BCCI is not willing to give them any authority, fearing that it might slip away from their hands and many of the giants of cricket like Sunny or Kapil Dev don't want to become a yes man for some industrialist or politician who don't even know C of cricket!
And no system can produce players with hunger. That has to come from within. What system does Bangladesh have than India doesnt ? Does SL have a better infrastructure than us ? After a long time they have done a few things right. Abolishing zonal systems, endorsement reforms, stress on youth etc all make sense. For once, i think BCCI is being unfairly criticized
Why not?? Good systems always produce good products. How on earth are you assuming that it can't produce good competitive players? If there is a cut throat competition at FC level and a player would need talent+attitude+temperament+ competitive spirit to even get into the FC team, why won't the final 11 players selected for the national side be hungary? At the moment a player can get a place in FC team if he has talent. He won't need any other quality because too many FC places are there. 500 FC cricketers---most of them are bound to be average and a little more talented ones won't have to work hard to shine over them. There would be no competition, so why won't this "chalta hai" approach creep in their game? Who has to get the domestic system right? Its the job of the BCCI. I don't know about SL but FYI, Bangladesh's board has become a lot more professional than both India anf Pak board and they are still working hard to improve themselves. And forget about the promises of the board. We have witnessed these hollow promises before also? If BCCI abolishes the zonal selection system, will it be able to abolish at the lower levls? What will happen to Duleep Trophy, Deodhar trophy selectors? What will happen to the board. It will never happen. Have they talked about improving at the grass root level? If not, what does stress on youth mean? I'm really surprised how you people are unable to get that these are just cosmetic steps!!
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Re: Who cares about cricket?

27 teams does dilute the competition a whole lot. 10 teams would do.
Even 10 is quite a lot, but it might be good for the starters. Read this article: Legality of BCCI restrictions on endorsements a grey area With non-cricket sports just waiting to explode in India, a very strong case can be made for spending a tiny fraction of the cricketer endorsement costs on athletes such as a high-performing teenage swimmer, a pre-teenage chess grandmaster and other precociously talented youngsters. They signify India?s youthful exuberance in the truest sense. Speaking of return on investment, the fore-thinking brand in particular and Indian sports in general could end up the big winners. So has the interest in Indian cricket hit a plateau? If so, then if not improved quickly, other sports are ready to grab the sponsors away. Once money goes away, it won't come back and I fear Indian cricket going the Indian hockey way if not improved fast. Improvement can be attained only by improving the domestic cricket structure. One can't run such a big empire on the back of the talent of few players who are in the twilight of their career and there is no bright glimpse from anywhere which might overshadow them even in their sunset. It is BCCI which has to improve the structure and bring cricket in India on track, if it wants the money to be flowing towards it. But I fear otherwise! Who cares about cricket in India?
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Re: Who cares about cricket?

Ex players are ready to help the cricket system but BCCI is not willing to give them any authority, fearing that it might slip away from their hands and many of the giants of cricket like Sunny or Kapil Dev don't want to become a yes man for some industrialist or politician who don't even know C of cricket!
This is not true. Dont expect BCCI to give them a VP or President's role. Cricketers are not experts to fill those roles. Most of our selectors are former players (More, Borde, Vengsarkar etc). Kapil was coach before. Gavaskar was offered to be coach, he turned it down. Shastri wants to walk away after the BD tour & the board is trying to keep him. I cant fault these guys. They have a MUCH easier job for atleast as much money, so why would they wanna pursue a high pressure job ? Infact even in the latest crisis they invited the ex-captains for a discussion. So its not like the BCCI doesnt offer any roles to these players, as u are making it out to be.
Why not?? Good systems always produce good products. How on earth are you assuming that it can't produce good competitive players? If there is a cut throat competition at FC level and a player would need talent+attitude+temperament+ competitive spirit to even get into the FC team, why won't the final 11 players selected for the national side be hungary?
But that hunger lasts only one season after they play for the national team. From then on, money, showbiz, women etc take priority. We have seen numerous youngsters do well in one or two seasons & quickly wither away.
Who has to get the domestic system right? Its the job of the BCCI. I don't know about SL but FYI, Bangladesh's board has become a lot more professional than both India anf Pak board and they are still working hard to improve themselves.
The grass is always greener on the other side, aint it ? SL & BD are playing well not because their board is more professional or just because of their talent (which is plenty in SL's bowling dept), but also because all 11 players (in SL) look hungry, to win the world cup. You could see it in the way they raised themselves in almost every crunch moment.
And forget about the promises of the board. We have witnessed these hollow promises before also? If BCCI abolishes the zonal selection system, will it be able to abolish at the lower levls? What will happen to Duleep Trophy, Deodhar trophy selectors? What will happen to the board. It will never happen. Have they talked about improving at the grass root level? If not, what does stress on youth mean? I'm really surprised how you people are unable to get that these are just cosmetic steps!!
Time will tell if these are cosmetic or not. Tell me when was the last time, BCCI showed commitment to abolish zonalism ? When was the last time, they reminded our super stars of their accountability after a debacle ? Whether these are cosmetic or real, many of what they have done recently makes sense.
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Re: Who cares about cricket? As some one said that its lot easy to get in the state team but then the gap to get into national team is too far. Its too much of asking for a young tallent to be playing Ranji and performing well and then not able to handle the pressure of internation cricket. They need more opportunities like more compititive cricket. Rather than reducing # Ranji teams, we can choose few and play them. Start selection from Ranji 2nd round. 4 coaches would go out and start selecting players for their teams. Upto 15 players are selected for each team. They are given good coaching by these coaches. They play some compititive cricket for 1 month. National selectors select from only this bunch1 They dont have to look for all the Ranji teams. Continue coaching these players and skip 1 year in between while these players continue to train and play some good cricket. For next season only throw away bad guys and get new ones in. Its not imposible to do it??

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Re: Who cares about cricket? Bumper, A coach's responsibility is only that of national team what what can the ex-players help in getting the rotten system work properly--by coaching the national team??? You must need to know how a system can be brought on track and ONLY BCCI can do it but they're not willing to. And I was extremely upset to see the respect or lack thereof for national players in you!! If they lack competitiveness, you still deny that it is because they get to play poor domestic cricket??? And time will certainly tell how much of the those steps by BCCI are implemented!!!

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Re: Who cares about cricket?

You must need to know how a system can be brought on track and ONLY BCCI can do it but they're not willing to.
U mentioned that BCCI didnt offer any roles to the players. I gave a few examples. But u are drifting away from that. How else do u want the players to help BCCI ? Do u want our cricketers to assume a VP or BCCI President's role ?
And I was extremely upset to see the respect or lack thereof for national players in you!!
Take it easy. These are just opinions. And you are confusing respect and adulation. I never worship players. I dont back any single player unconditionally. They deserve all the criticism after a shameless, gutless performance in the world's biggest stage. I dont care as much about the loss -- winning and losing is part of the game. But the manner in which they lost. And its not the first time, we abjectly surrendered in an important occassion. It has happened so frequently i almost lost count.
If they lack competitiveness, you still deny that it is because they get to play poor domestic cricket???
Who is they ? Are u talking about our youngsters or seniors ? Tell me which of the teams below had a BETTER domestic setup, than we have right now ? 1983 Indian team 1992 Pakistani team 1996 Lankan team 2003 Indian team While domestic setup is important, it cannot be used as an excuse to sweep all our real problems under the carpet.
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Re: Who cares about cricket? Agree or not the problems in Indian cricket doesn't arise from just one source. It's from everywhere, selectors, players, administrators, coach et al You name it and they are there taking Indian cricket to doldrums. Players don't own up their issues and drag on and on despite bad performances. None wants to work hard but just want to reap the fruits. You drop a player and his fan following will burn the effigies of the selectors and they even boo the players, the team, coach when the team plays in the dropped player's home town. We have had a coach that simply can't do anything right, he had a vision, he had processes but eventually he doesn't want to own up he stuffed up. We have players like Kaif complaining they were given a raw deal despite playing for years and scoring ziltch. We have legendary cricketers that bring up the number of years at a drop of a hat. We have selectors that publicly proclaim there is no talent in the country. The selectors are waiting for the next round of Viv Richards, Don Bradman, Laras and Tendulkars it seems. We have a captain that is always under confusion whether to bat or bowl every time he wins a toss. We have X-Cricketing giants in India always complaining about Aussies behaviour on the field but can't afford time to work with upcoming cricketers. We have cricketers running soaps on cricket on Zee TV but have no time to help the young ones at grass root levels. We have international cricketers that can't handle pressure outside India, can't handle media, can't handle a bad run of form and can't play domestic cricket. We have the administrators that do fantastic job bringing the money in but lock huge sums in a fixed deposit to earn meagre interest. The problem is not single fold here, it is multi fold. In a situation like this you can't simply pin point a single source of failure, the system on the whole sucks big time. Before anything can be done with the Indian cricket system every one including the players should be handed over their job description. It doesn't seem like anyone can understand in the Indian cricket system what their job is. None knows what their job is including the players. I think it is time even for the captain to call the players and let them know what he needs from each of them. I could go on and on but does it make a difference? I guess not. The system will carry the same way whether we like it or not. I'm fairly happy to see the cricket board try something different and unusual for once. Whether it is a wishy washy task to get over the current trouble, I don't know. Lest someone needs to do something different. Excuse my typos, grammer as I wrote this piece in extreme frustration at the current situation of Indian cricket.

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Re: Who cares about cricket?

The problem is not single fold here, it is multi fold. In a situation like this you can't simply pin point a single source of failure, the system on the whole sucks big time. Before anything can be done with the Indian cricket system every one including the players should be handed over their job description. It doesn't seem like anyone can understand in the Indian cricket system what their job is. None knows what their job is including the players.
Bang on Ravi. The whole system needs to be professionalised and how it'd be done, we all know. When BCCI took the case back and bowed out from the HC, they said that they'd follow those suggestion as much as possible but they have not done anything apart from just announcing that Ratnakar Shetty is the CEO of BCCI and Lalit Modi the CFO-- the most cosmentic announcements for the two important posts. And they've not been able to put even the website of the board up!
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Re: Who cares about cricket?

U mentioned that BCCI didnt offer any roles to the players. I gave a few examples. But u are drifting away from that. How else do u want the players to help BCCI ? Do u want our cricketers to assume a VP or BCCI President's role ? .
I think it was you who had said that why the ex cricketers are not helping the board.
Why are our arm chair critics (ex-cricketers) not helping the BCCI. They are happy to be part of ESPN commentary teams, but wont assume a role in the BCCI which is their for the taking ?
These are your words I suppose? And what I tried to explain to you (but most probably failed to) that the board needs a professional set-up and at the most where the ex-players can help the board is as a cricket-director (that too is a high-skill job and needs to have management skills along with knowledge of cricket and its requirements in the country or as the head-coach of NCA but that'll be important only if board makes the NCA functional for the whole year. I can't think of any other job which an ex-cricketer can do in a professionalised set-up.
And you are confusing respect and adulation. I never worship players. I dont back any single player unconditionally.
No Bumper. I'm also not talking about adulation or worship. I'm merely talking about respect. and if you respect the players, you'll never say this:
But that hunger lasts only one season after they play for the national team. From then on, money, showbiz, women etc take priority
Just because they've not been successful, it is a serious accusation that they indulge only in money, showbiz and women and that too without any proof. I think that is clear lack of respect. I agree that their capitulation was extremely embarrassing but these are still serious allegations. And I've told you before too: the cricket in India and Pak are sailing till now only because of few outstanding individual talents. two to three of such talent were there in 1983 in good form and two to three such talents were there in 2003 too in good form. Hence those results. You just can't expect success, competitiveness and tenacity, consistently from a system like we have.
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Re: Who cares about cricket? Chandan, it is you who claimed BCCI doesnt offer any roles to our players. Ur specific quote was:

Ex players are ready to help the cricket system but BCCI is not willing to give them any authority, fearing that it might slip away from their hands and many of the giants of cricket like Sunny or Kapil Dev don't want to become a yes man for some industrialist or politician who don't even know C of cricket!
My retort shows you the no. of opportunities offered to ex-cricketers, but yet nothing great has come out of them.
No Bumper. I'm also not talking about adulation or worship. I'm merely talking about respect. and if you respect the players, you'll never say this:
But that hunger lasts only one season after they play for the national team. From then on, money, showbiz, women etc take priority
Are u kidding me ? Do u want me to list examples ? How about Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj (for about 3 years), Zaheer Khan to name a few. And exactly, what is disappointing about not respecting these cricketers, who dont do much to earn it themselves ? Dont tell me u havent heard of their keen interests in modelling, girl friends & sponsorships, while being lousy on the field. In this team, the only two cricketers i have utmost respect for are Dravid & Kumble. The day, i lose respect for these two, am not sure i'll be able to watch cricket anymore and to some extent Dhoni, for his attitude. I used to have respect for SRT, but not anymore (unless he does something to earn it back on/off the field) In short, u cant blame only the system & BCCI for all our woes. We have some really lousy cricketers. Ravi put it best. There are too many factors affecting our cricket. Blaming it all on BCCI & letting our players get away with it scott free, is myopic to say the least.
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Re: Who cares about cricket? Bumper, You can go through the thread again to see who mentioned the need of ex-players helping out BCCI---you our me. Secondly, I said that a real meaningful post for them would be the head-coach of NCA ONLY IF the Nca is functional for the whole year. Do you know at the moment what purpose the NCA serves and who is its head-coach and for how many months does he have to work or even what has he got to work on? I'll discuss about the players on a separate thread as I don't want to let this thread go in another direction. So are you fully happy with the way BCCI works? Are you happy with the infrastructure of the country? Are you happy with the domestic cricket that we have? Even before that, are you happy with the league cricket that we have which leads to selection into the Ranji teams? Is your sole gripe with the players and their attitude? I'd like you to write views, since unfortunately only three or four of us seem concerned about cricket in India.

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