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Kirti Azad, former India cricketer and the Bharatiya Janata Party's member of Parliament from Darbhanga, tells N Sundaresha Subramanian and Gyan Varma that politicians are involved in the Board Of Control For Cricket In India, or BCCI for free publicity, political clout and lots of money
For two consecutive years now, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has come under the scanner for all the wrong reasons; and, for the first time, a cricketer who has represented India at the international level has been accused of spot-fixing.
If you remember, I had staged a demonstration outside the Delhi and District Cricket Association's (DDCA's) headquarters last year. My demand was simple - ensure transparency, accountability and responsibility. My stand has been vindicated. We all know what has been happening in cricket for a long time. I believe prevention is better than cure. The IPL tumour is slowly turning into a cancer, thanks to the ailment not being treated. It is because IPL is a sub-committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the cricket board is getting a bad name, too.
Former state-level players were allegedly acting as middlemen between players and bookies. Is state-level cricket infested with corruption, too, or is this a new phenomenon, given the huge money involved in IPL?
I can talk about my local state association where I have been pointing out glaring instances of incompetence and corruption. But that happens if you don't deal with such incidents with an iron fist... however, (what happens is) you go to the police, the police investigates and later, political pressure is put on them, encouraging the culprits to go ahead with their corrupt means because they enjoy political patronage.
In 1999, I had raised this issue after Hansie Cronje was found guilty of match-fixing. At the time, I had highlighted the issue in Parliament, and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry was set up. Even before the CBI could complete its investigations, some players were banned for life. In the current case, the police has come up with evidence. But, again, because of political and bureaucratic interference, players have been suspended, though a thorough inquiry is pending. You straightaway ban these players; and this is being reported in the media. Everybody is watching us, and we're getting a bad name. Because of the involvement of politicians, the episode has a "government attitude". It is neither the National Democratic Alliance nor the United Progressive Alliance to be blamed; but a "United Front". Those calling the shots belong to both the government and the organisation. And being politicians, they are only bothered about their own reputation. In 2009, an internal committee was formed under Arun Jaitley, which is gathering dust now. Why? Cricket needs immediate action against the prevalent indiscipline. However, not even a single meeting has taken place after each of these activities was reported. Then, there is the legal committee that should make rules to prevent such incidents, and suggest to the government what laws are to be made. But, unfortunately, nothing has happened.
There are allegations against the Chennai Super Kings owner, who is a close relative of BCCI President N Srinivasan. How do you see the problem of match-fixing and spot-fixing at a time when allegations have reached such a top level?
I have read in the newspapers... it has been alleged that the son-in-law of the BCCI chief is involved. If this is true, it will be the darkest day in the history of Indian cricket. The name of the game is getting sullied, and so of the country. It's necessary that Ceasar's wife must be above suspicion.
Previously, IPL has been accused of getting into dubious ownership deals. When you look back at IPL as a tournament now, do you think certain initial decisions have encouraged corruption in IPL?
The report prepared by Yashwant Sinha's Standing Committee on Finance said IPL had violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act and the Reserve Bank of India norms; highlighted cases of money laundering... but nothing has come out of these. So you are encouraging the culprits by taking no action.
If former cricketers start acting as fixers because of their proximity to current players in IPL, how safe are other forms of cricket, especially T20 and one-day matches?
There are at least two games being played everyday. So by the time you realise that something was suspicious in a certain match, sixes are already hit in the next over. If we don't put a stop to it, this is the best betting house for anybody. What is happening is very alarming - cricketers are getting lured even after earning so much. For a player, Rs 50 lakh might be a lot. But imagine the damage he does; the information you passed, the bookie will earn Rs 50 crore.
You have said the BCCI was recently warned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the possibility of fixers and bookies getting easy access to cricket venues. Who is to be blamed for not acting on the information?
True, local associations should be blamed. The information comes from the ICC to the BCCI. The BCCI, in turn, informs the state associations about it. A couple of years ago, an alleged fixer was seen with a team, talking on a mobile phone when India was playing against the Netherlands. Yet, after the anti-corruption unit of the ICC told the BCCI, he continued to be present there. In the first week of May, again, a strong-worded letter had come about the same gentleman, and the DDCA had to remove his area pass. There is another case in point: Asad Rauf was under surveillance since last year, why did it take so long? Was the BCCI waiting to catch him in these IPL matches?
Police officials have suggested that cricket betting is like gambling, and the law is too weak to act against bookies, who can get away by paying a fine of Rs 100. What needs to be done to strengthen the law since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members are also members of the BCCI?
Agreed, betting norms are weak. But cheating laws as well as those against criminal conspiracy are in place; laws against money laundering and enforcement directorate can come in - there are so many ways. Did you have laws against the chit fund scandal in West Bengal? Did you have laws for the Commonwealth Games scam, the coal scam, the helicopter scam or the 2G scam? But you have sent people to jails... haven't you? Unfortunately, the game was invented by the British, and that rule still applies in India. You show me the man, I will show you the rule. And with people from various parties from the ruling and the Opposition forming the "United Front", it's a good excuse to say there is no law.
At a time when people are demanding greater accountability from politicians, why is it that the BCCI and almost all sports bodies are governed by politicians across parties?
Free publicity, political clout, lots of money - we all know politicians love money, don't they?
The BCCI has repeatedly said since it is not a government organisation, it will not come under the Right to Information Act (RTI). If the board is representing India at the international level and getting easy access to all stadia in the country, what is the problem in being more accountable towards people they represent?
Well, the national anthem is played; national flag is displayed; exemptions are taken; and grounds are given on institutional rates. If they don't want to come under the RTI Act, I'm afraid the BCCI will go the Indian Olympic Association way, which has been banned.
