Sunny & Ravi under BCCI contract

[GrassHoppers]

Sunny, Shastri get Rs 3.6 crore each to spread BCCI gospel Biggest open secret of the cricket establishment The cricket board has also made it mandatory for any channel telecasting international matches on Indian soil to have these two men on its commentary team Last week, two ESPN-Star commentators — Nasser Hussain and Ravi Shastri — got into a verbal spat which was heard by millions around the world. When Shastri, opposing the contentious UDRS, attacked the former England captain, an exasperated Hussain finally said that he was paid by the channel to HAVE an opinion. What remained unspoken was the cricket establishment’s biggest open secret that Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri are hirelings of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) who toe their official line. When they speak you are likely to get, not independent opinion, but what the BCCI wants you to hear. It can now be revealed that the two respected opinion makers have been contracted by the BCCI for an annual fee of Rs 3.6 crore to spread the Board’s gospel — on issues such as UDRS, IPL, or umpiring decisions that may be adverse to Indian interests. “They cannot say anything that goes against the policy or interests of the Board,†said a senior BCCI member. The BCCI contract also stipulates that any channel telecasting an international match on Indian soil will have to hire these two men for its commentary team. A similar contract, for a lesser fee, had been signed with Harsha Bhogle too, but was subsequently cancelled because then IPL commissioner Lalit Modi had not taken permission for it from the IPL governing council. “Yes, both Shastri and Gavaskar are employed with the Board as commentators,†a top BCCI official told Mirror. “This pertains to all BCCI-owned cricket – international matches held in India, the IPL, and the Champions League. We tell the TV companies that they have to take them on board as our official commentators.†Reacting to the revelation, respected media commentator Santosh Desai said, “There is no business for such people to be in the commentary box. But the scenario is hardly surprising considering the BCCI works like a banana republic for which conflict of interest has never been an issue; in fact it actively creates them. I see this as a larger nexus between the Board, the commentators, and the TV broadcasters. The onus has to be on individuals, especially if they are iconic sportsmen, to set an example and not become a part of this co-option for personal gain.†Other commentators that this newspaper spoke to expressed unease at the arrangement, but refused to speak on-record for fear of creating animosity in their small, privileged pool. However, one of them revealed that he makes it a point to mention in his CV that he’s not contracted by the BCCI, and therefore brings with him an “unbiased†and “honest†opinion. When contacted, both Gavaskar and Shastri admitted that they were centrally contracted by the Board, but did not see this either as a conflict of interest, or as something that hampered them from freely airing their views. “In fact, it helps me,†Shastri told Mirror. “Now I get to see both sides of the coin before saying something. It is left for the viewers to judge whether I am biased or shackled, and the viewer is no fool.†Shastri said he had own personal views on DRS, which “just happened to be the same as the BCCI’sâ€, and that he believes Ian Bell should not have been recalled by Dhoni during the Trent Bridge Test match. “You have to see my body of work over 20 years. It doesn’t matter who pays me. I have strong views on cricket which I express freely. If others are offered Board contracts, they should sign up as well,†he said. Gavaskar, meanwhile, said that the BCCI had taken over a contract he had with the World Sports Group following their public differences over IPL rights. “But I don’t think there is an issue at all. I always speak my mind, and I’m always honest on air. I am not under instructions from anyone that I shouldn’t talk about this or talk about that,†he said. When asked how he reacted to criticism that he was so pro-BCCI and India that he lacked objectivity, Gavaskar said, “I don’t react for the simple reason that everybody’s entitled to their view. I’m quite happy to receive criticism that is constructive and am happy to improve. I would love to be Richie Benaud, but I know I can’t be. I don’t toe the BCCI line. Maybe, I don’t sound as critical as I did 20 years ago, but I think that is an age thing. The words you use when you are younger are different from the words you use when you get older.†When asked specifically about a conflict of interest, Gavaskar said, “Every person who does a job faces some conflict of interest or the other. There are many people who work for employers whose practices they may not agree with, but they don’t quit their jobs because of that. Anyway, I don’t really think about it as a conflict of interest because every time I comment, I am being completely honest.â€

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/1/201108052011080501581847afbd076c/Sunny-Shastri-get-Rs-36-crore-each-to-spread-BCCI-gospel.html

[achilles]

This is serious hate-mongering. This article is a shining beacon for everything that is one-sided in the world of media. With newspapers like these around, we don't need the English media to spread nonsense at all. Waiting for the Pakistanis, Aussies and Poms to pounce on this. Congrats on the self-goal, Mirror

[Shawn]

:facepalm:

[Trichromatic]

This is serious hate-mongering. This article is a shining beacon for everything that is one-sided in the world of media. With newspapers like these around, we don't need the English media to spread nonsense at all. Waiting for the Pakistanis, Aussies and Poms to pounce on this. Congrats on the self-goal, Mirror

You mean it's a false news?

[achilles]

Hate to admit this, but maybe Atherton was right in 2006 - Read more

[GrassHoppers]

I think if the news is false they both can sue the Mirror because it has direct quotes from Sunny & Shastri. The Mirror will be in deep deep trouble if it's fake.

[achilles]

You mean it's a false news?

I don't know. Assuming that they are openly quoting Shaz and Sunny, maybe this is a true news. The point is, the media should know what to show and what not to. This is seriously crossing the line. The image will get tarnished here and around the world, these men will be looked at with suspicion, even if they are making their own judgements. And this will add to the unexhaustive list titled - "BCCI is responsible for ruining cricket"

[Trichromatic]

I don't know. Assuming that they are openly quoting Shaz and Sunny, maybe this is a true news. The point is, the media should know what to show and what not to. This is seriously crossing the line. The image will get tarnished here and around the world, these men will be looked at with suspicion, even if they are making their own judgements. And this will add to the unexhaustive list titled - "BCCI is responsible for ruining cricket"

If it's right then there is nothing wrong with showing it.

[Creative R]

Mirror wont produce false news with quotes and wahts wrong in exposing Shasthri and Sunny? Theyv been paid to defend BCCI,Media has every right to expose stuff.I work in an international media as well.well done Mirror,uv got balls!!!!!!

[pinkfreud]

I work in an international media as well

It shows.

[Jayaram_IND]

Wish one day we can just speak about cricket as a game .All these politics just takes the sheen off the wonderful game.

[Rahul48]

Our team is getting hammered in England & now BCCI & other clowns getting exposed :((

[Sachinism]

Mirror wont produce false news with quotes and wahts wrong in exposing Shasthri and Sunny? Theyv been paid to defend BCCI,Media has every right to expose stuff.I work in an international media as well.well done Mirror,uv got balls!!!!!!

Tea boy?

[Creative R]

It shows.

sorry puss.dats how it works,u do wrong,try to manipulate and dominate then u get exposed.Being an Indian I dont like BCCI dominating ICC

[pinkfreud]

sorry puss.

Don't be dahlin'. I getcha.

Being an Indian I dont like BCCI dominating ICC

But of course.

[Creative R]

Tea boy?

wat do u mean?? sunny and shaz hav always been biased indidviduals

[Creative R]

anyaways we are a bloated no 1 indeed.We dont deserve it hahah sunn himself blamig the team now out of the 8 series we won 2 against bangla and 5 at home.hahahha No 1 was a good promo for media to up the mojo of the blind fans

[achilles]

sunny and shaz hav always been biased indidviduals

Biased? Sure. Just like- Imran Rameez Aamer Holding Botham Slater Atherton Feel free to add to the list.

[NareshK]

You mean it's a false news?

No, everything on the internet and on tv is true. :facepalm:

[GrassHoppers]

wat do u mean?? sunny and shaz hav always been biased indidviduals

Since we are the richest board in the world we can do whatever we want, it's our right to present our point of view.