Governing on a sticky wicket

Not Just a Nightwatchman

Author: Vinod Rai

Publisher: Rupa

Pages: 218

Price: Rs 595

Vinod Rai and I have known each other since 1967. He was two years senior to me in Hindu College in Delhi University and had the privilege of “ragging” me, albeit in the civilised and gentlemanly manner that he is known for. This is his third book. The first was about his time as the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG). The second was on issues in governance. This one is about his time running the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) as the chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA).

It’s not a pretty story he tells. Indeed, given how short that body falls of normal governance norms, it is a wonder Indian cricket has done so extraordinarily well that it now calls the shots globally. Incidentally, it was this newspaper which, back in 1995, had first pointed out in an editorial that the BCCI was earning huge sums of money and that it needed an overhaul of its governance structure. Nothing happened, of course. Mr Rai’s book laments exactly that.

He explains how things are done at the BCCI, one of the world’s most powerful sports bodies and tells many stories about the politics of it all. All those who love Indian cricket should read it. They will be dismayed.

At the heart of the governance problem at the BCCI lies basic electoral politics because the members of the Board are elected by the state cricket federations, of which there can be more than one. Those who control the state federations, often on a hereditary basis, become very important. They make up an electoral college. Anyone who can attract their votes can control the BCCI.

This was one of the problems the Lodha Committee had tried to solve. One state, one vote it had said. The powerful in the BCCI were incensed. The stakes being high, matters can, as they did, turn ugly. So ugly indeed that the top brass of the BCCI even refused to comply with Supreme Court orders. We are a private body, said the BCCI, so you can take a walk. Mr Rai keeps marvelling at the sheer arrogance of the BCCI. He just can’t believe how anyone can be so defiant even of the Supreme Court.

Finally, in sheer exasperation, the court tried to solve the problem by appointing the CoA. Its mandate was to devise a new constitution, or articles of association, for the BCCI and to supervise its management. As things turned out, the court was just tilting at the windmill. The BCCI did change but it has mostly remained the same.

Mr Rai also talks about the l’affaire Anil Kumble who, he says, was appointed coach for just one year instead of the usual two. The affair blew up soon after the CoA had taken over. He tells us about the rumours that started circulating soon after he became coach that he was not getting along with the captain, Virat Kohli. These seem to have been founded in fact even if exaggerated.

The CoA thought Mr Kumble’s contract should be extended but could not do so without appearing high handed. In the event it did nothing and Mr Kumble himself quit the job. Mr Rai says he is a thoughtful and thorough professional and gentleman. Mr Rai has also devoted an entire chapter to women’s cricket which has truly come of age. He gives all credit to Madhavrao Scindia and Sharad Pawar for encouraging it.

He gives a detailed account of the Mithali Raj affair after she was dropped from the playing eleven in a semi-final match against England which India lost. It’s the usual story of a coach-captain clash but there are some interesting new factoids that place it all in proper perspective. Friction is inherent in the situation, says Mr Rai, which is what led Saurav Ganguly to tell Mithali Raj “Welcome to the club.” He had had problems with coach Greg Chappell.

The only complaint I have with the book is the dearth of instances, examples and anecdotes of how Mr Rai and his colleagues dealt with the huge variety of things that came their way. Mr Rai is altogether too careful in his desire not to appear anything but neutral. That’s not a bad thing in itself but such stories as are there, are too sparse. After all, operating there couldn’t have been easier than batting against Pakistan on that wicked Bangalore wicket of 1986. India lost that match by 16 runs despite Sunil Gavaskar’s heroic 96 on a square turner, not unlike the one Rai & Co had to bat on.

The personal touch is important in such books. Just a little bit of it would have leavened the dough nicely.