IOA officials must avoid washing dirty linen in public

It was brewing for some time. This power tussle between the top functionaries of the Indian Olympic Association ... president Narinder Batra and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta ... has been waiting to happen for quite a while.
Foundations of the rift was laid long ago when Batra, despite laying down office in Hockey India when he stepped up to take stewardship of FIH, remained pretty much hands-on as far as IOA was concerned. His regular interactions with government officials, both in the ministry of youth affairs and sports as well as Sports Authority of India, didn't go down well with Mehta who expected to be running the show even in his second term in office much the same way as he did in his first!
The latest provocation has been the opening of SAI training facilities for sports persons and Batra's enthusiastic backing of the move. Mehta chose to disagree with the IOA president saying the move could jeopardise the health and welfare of elite athletes.
Mehta would do well to remember that IOA is only an apex body with little or no control over the day to day functioning of various sports. It is within the purview of IOA to interact with the MYAS and SAI as far as training and other related facilities are made available to country's top sports persons but beyond that it is best left to the experts in each field.
Batra, quite smartly, used his presence in Delhi through the Covid19 pandemic to take charge of the co-ordination with government bodies, leaving the secretary-general fuming since Mehta felt it was his role being usurped by the president.
Be that as it may, the public utterances by both officials does not help the cause of sports. After all it is for the benefit of sports that officials must perform and when they begin to disagree over petty issues, things do not augur well. 
Opening training facilities for sports persons is a move in the right direction as society hits the restart button, albeit with great care. SAI on its own has laid down a Standard Operating Procedure for all training facilities though it may not be all encompassing but at least a start has been made.
Individual athlete has the choice to utilise an SAI training facility or be on his/her own depending upon the level of comfort. But top IOA functionaries arguing about such affairs is hardly a solution that Indian sports needs in such unprecedented times.
What has emerged from the rather unsavoury public exchange is a fight for supremacy that could have been easily avoided. Even now its not too late to stop washing dirty linen in public!
It will only hurt IOA and Indian sport!

Too early to push Ganguly into ICC

First it was Englishman David Gower. Now former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, who runs cricket affairs in his home country, is rooting for former Indian captain Sourav Gnaguly to take over as chairman of the International Cricket Council when incumbent Shashank Manohar's term ends in June, 2020.
Ganguly has had a safe run so far both as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India alongside his responsibilities as head of Cricket Association of Bengal. No doubt, Ganguly has been making the right moves in his twin administrative positions but stepping up to the ICC may leave him a bit exposed as the responsibility needs a vast amount of experience in juggling both the interests of affiliated boards and players.
It's a proven fact that Ganguly has managed to steer the ship in most difficult times. His being catapulted into Team India's leadership is just a case in point. Global cricket was going through an upheaval following the match-fixing saga. But the then fondly called "Prince of Kolkata" was up to the challenge and put Indian cricket back on the right track.
Cricket in India has never looked back since and with Ganguly taking over the CAB top post it was only a matter of time he moved into the BCCI. That it happened much sooner than even he would have anticipated is evidence of the confidence he enjoys in the cricket fraternity.
The same confidence now draws the call for him to guide ICC through the unprecedented crisis that the world of sport as a whole finds itself in. But ICC may yet be uncharted territory for the stylish left-handed batsman as he continues to consolidate his grip on Indian cricket affairs. 
More than money, its the safe restart of cricket that Ganguly must negotiate at present. Suspension of the hugely popular and financially lucrative Indian Premier League is only part of the challenge. Getting the players back on the field of play without putting their physical well-being into jeopardy would prove a major headache for even the most experienced of men.
For one, Ganguly has shown right from his playing days that he is not one to shy away from a battle. But cricket administration needs him to also work as a diplomat, balancing interests of different nations at every level. Members countries, both at the Test level as well as associates, each present a different need which the ICC must look into as it moves through an uncertain future.
India, without a doubt, has to provide the leadership for international cricket to be put back on track. But it may be too early to hand the ICC mantle to Ganguly for now. Experienced administrator that Manohar is, he deserves to be allowed to remain in his post through the current turbulence. The man has had a pretty smooth run so far and there's little doubt about his ability to govern. Other international sports bodies, like field hockey, have already done away with elections scheduled for 2020.
Ganguly and India would be better served if the present BCCI president is allowed more time to learn the ropes at the highest levels of sports administration. As BCCI president he already has a major contribution in ICC affairs
Best to let the man himself decide when he wishes to step up to the plate!

Cricket's survival cannot be tied to IPL season

The Indian Premier League, since its 2008 launch, has become the richest cricket tournament in the world. Without doubt IPL has provided many a player the platform for global recognition while churning out loads of cash for not just hosts Board of Control for Cricket in India and its partners but other national boards as well.
Financial implications of a "no show" may be pretty big but it cannot be expected to threaten the very survival of the game, as one former senior IPL official opined.
Former IPL head honcho Sunder Raman has gone on record to say that world cricket's very survival could be threatened if the tournament is not held during 2020!
Not really true, though this year's IPL was scheduled for a March-end start and hence nearly all commercial commitments would have already been wrapped up. But with no IPL due to the worldwide Covid19 pandemic, there is little chance that the money would be paid at all. In fact, some partners may want a refund on their advance as the economy reels under weeks of forced closure.
Without a doubt everyone associated with IPL ... from BCCI and franchises to players, officials, trainers, ground staff, stadium managements, host associations, hospitality and travel ... stands to suffer a big loss. Many might not even make it through, pretty much like the airlines and tourism industry.
However, cricket boards are not solely dependent on IPL revenue for survival. Even before 2008 there was plenty of cricket played around the world but yes its valuation was not as high as it became post the IPL marketing blitz.
BCCI, for one, certainly has enough reserves to see it through the pandemic. It has already announced its intention to not enforce a pay cut on its contracted players.
Others may not be as fortunate but to see their survival itself tied to the staging of the IPL may be a bit of an over-reach. The tournament does generate money like nothing before but most of the benefits accrue to the players, both home and abroad. 
Most likely, foreign boards would not be losing sleep over the IPL suspension. More worrisome for them would be sword dangling over the ICC World T20 scheduled for later in the year. 
There is indeed intense lobbying to replace the ICC event itself with the IPL. Actually not a bad idea as far as India is concerned. With international travel still in limbo, everything is up in the air.
But will the ICC oblige? Only time will tell ...

Biased selection has curtailed many a promising sports career

India's cricket captain Virat Kohli in a social media interaction with his football opposite number Sunil Chhetri made a frank admission about the malaise that affects sports right across the board. Corruption in selection can mar many a deserving talent and has been happening without fail not only in India but across the world.
Kohli's late father was asked to provide that "little extra" to ensure his selection in the Delhi age group squad. Virat Kohli may now be considered the best batsmen in the world apart from being touted as a players' captain, but a couple of more selection disappointments early in life could well have killed his passion for the game.
That he fought his way through to captain India from the under-19 to the senior squad is proof of not only his prodigious talent but also his steely determination to go all the way to top!
One recalls a youthful Kohli, fresh from under-19 success, biding his time in the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa and grabbing his chance with both hands once Yuvraj Singh was injured.
But he had traveled thus far despite the Delhi selection matters going against him early makes him an exception rather than the rule.
Selection committees, across all sports, are well known for their sharp likes and dislikes. Government has tried to put a balanced structure in place with its own nominees through various routes for national selection committees but down the line its still not so transparent. Performance evaluation is what a selection committee is expected to do and are considered the most competent to do the job. The moment other considerations come into play, bias is bound to set in and fairness is tossed out of the window.
This global pandemic has given the world of sport to pause and re-calibrate. Those that can set their house in order will continue to flourish. If not, a definite slide awaits! 
Kohli's remarks should serve as an eye-opener of how deep this malaise is.Time is ripe to stem the rot!

Strict protocols needed to open sports complexes

The government of India has finally declared it's intention to keep sports complexes out of its list of restricted activities. Great news for both sports persons as well as sports enthusiasts, though there is a clear bar on entry of spectators. But it does raise hopes of sporting competitions beaming into homes rather than a complete blank!
India, though, is the second most populous country in the world. The sheer size of its citizenry makes its bigger in size than entire Europe put together. It also brings along with it unique advantages and challenges.
The biggest hurdle for sports arenas is to regulate entry and keep a strict vigil on those permitted to use the facilities to prevent any spread of the dreaded Covid19 virus. A strict security and screening protocol needs to be put in place to prevent any kind of outbreak of the virus which so abruptly caused a global shutdown like never before!
Its a brave new world that will step out and it must realise that restrictions need to be placed judiciously so as not to put unnecessary curbs on the training regimens of top level sports persons and yet ensuring their safety from the pandemic.
Easier said than done, but professionals need to be consulted before the doors are thrown open. Sports training, by its very nature, is all about physical and mental preparation. Sweat and toil are routine so safety measures need to take that into account.
As the good old saying goes, its horses for courses! 
Staggered training times for different sports disciplines along with time-limit blocks for use of gyms and spas which are more susceptible to viral spread. More than the sports persons, it is going to be a learning curve for coaches and trainers as the regimens will need to be tailored to fit into the new restrictions that will allow for a safe environment for all.
The problem of Covid19 isn't going anywhere in a hurry. The quicker people learn to come to terms with restrictions to keep the viral infection at bay the better opportunities could be there for all. After all there are no national or international competitions round the corner. It allows competitors to ease into their revised training methods and schedules to achieve best results.
Watchword is ... Safety First!

Football steals a march with Bundesliga kick-off

The beautiful game has once again stolen a march on the world of sports. Recovering from the forced shutdown of the earth, the Germans decided to take on the Covid19 virus head-on and ordered a re-start of the Bundesliga.
What seemed impossible only a few weeks ago, has been done, albeit due to economic necessities. DFL, who run the German football league, took the bold step to successfully negotiate the dangerous route of holding games in empty stadia. That television viewing around the world went through the roof should come as no surprise when sports lovers have been denied Live action for more than 10 weeks now!
Cavernous 80,000-seater stadium in Dortmund reverberated as Borussia Dortmund took on neighbours Schalke 04 in the hotly contested riviera derby. But the ghostly quiet that accompanied the game, which would have otherwise found the venue bursting at the seams, adds an altogether new chapter in sporting competitions.
Doing it for TV has long been the watchword in US sports, with every league schedule tailored to suit audience tastes! But for Europe and football, much like the rest of the world including USA, this was an entirely new experience. DFL walked into the unknown and seems to have made a sound start. After all it was a whopping 300 million euros at stake. That's the kind of money DFL stood to lose if the league was not completed as part of the rights holder agreement with TV channels.
Its a brave new world that sport has walked into. 
There were, without doubt, hiccups along the way as well. One club, struggling to avoid relegation, lost services of its newly appointed coach, the man denied his debut only because he broke quarantine rules to step out and buy a tube of toothpaste.
That may have been the exception but it was enforced without any sympathy is evidence to the German steely determination to tide over this global crisis as only they can. Germans have, without doubt, taken the lead and the sporting world now has the brave new moves of the DFL (not DFB, the German federation) to thank for showing them the way.
Sports no longer need to remain in limbo! Heil DFL!!!

Up to cricketers after BCCI shows the way with no pay cuts

Sports, along with entertainment and tourism, has been among the worst hit sectors by the worldwide pandemic with no end in sight yet. The global lock-down shut the doors on sporting contests leaving even the richest of institutions vulnerable.
Despite the economic difficulties created by the unprecedented closures, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to stand by its players, not enforcing any pay-cuts to those holding annual contracts. Each players stands to earn seven and eight figure retainers whether they see any cricketing action or not.
Obviously it protects the players from taking a financial hit, though the fatter pay cheques from the Indian Premier League are good as gone. That leaves the fringe players in a bit of a tizzy but something completely beyond human control at the present moment.
Apart from the players themselves, there is an entire army of people whose livelihood is directly related to the conduct of cricket. Groundsmen must mow the grass and look after the pitches. Various other facilities need to be maintained in the practice and match areas for players as well as the spectator areas in readiness for sporting action to resume, however long it may take for the restarts.
Though cricket with packed stadia may not happen any time soon, the salaries need to be paid. And state associations on their own are hardly in a position to honour such commitments without generous contributions from the BCCI. Not that the board has been found wanting in loosening the purse strings, but more needs to be done when income has run completely dry.
Here is where the contracted players can pitch in big time!
The Indian Cricketers Association, led by former Test batsman Ashok Malhotra, has launched a fund to help former and current members in these troubled times. BCCI has made a fair contribution as have several former players! Current players too should not be holding back to help their less fortunate brethren. 
In such critical moments, as the old saying goes, every rupee counts!