- The Board of Control for Cricket in India is the richest cricketing body whose revenue generation is considered one of the topmost in the entire sporting world itself. Note that the International Cricket Council’s 70% of revenue generation originates from India. We know how cricket is treated as no less than a religion in India and its popularity is always on the ascendancy courtesy of attractive initiatives introduced over the years The Indian Premier League T20 cricket has emerged as the biggest money-spinner generating not only huge amounts of money but also raking in big sponsors prepared to pump in astounding investments. No wonder, the IPL attracts international stalwarts in a drove who are prepared to ply their trade even at the cost of foregoing contracts.
PC:
- As you must be aware, even though overseas players make a beeline to showcase their skill sets in India, it’s strange to note that the BCCI imposes restrictions on Indian players from playing abroad in a similar vein. Since the BCCI enjoys tremendous traction by holding the global purse strings, no other cricket body, or for that matter the governing ICC is in a position to question the Board for fear of antagonizing. However, the ICC may not admit it openly, but the fact remains that the BCCI controls the world’s cricketing finance big time. Understandably, none of the other cricketing-playing nations would wish to rub the BCCI the wrong way. The BCCI continuing to stick to its stand of not allowing Indian cricketers to ply their trade elsewhere is starkly glaring.
- Indeed, it’s rare in India for women to get a fairer deal than men. Cricket’s one such outlier. Call it a strange or welcome change for women, they are allowed to ply their trade overseas without jeopardizing their career. Their male counterparts, however, are denied that right. One has to retire from all forms of domestic cricket to get that opportunity. This is unfair. BCCI, as the domestic cricket regulator, is using its monopoly to deprive players who are good enough to get overseas offers a chance to shape their career path. Media reports indicate that a section of BCCI even wants to subject retired players to a cooling-off phase before they look for overseas opportunities. Cooling off makes sense in sensitive areas such as the military or government entities.
PC: Mike Egerton/PA
- This is to prevent conflicts of interest. But not in cricket per se. England and Australia, with robust domestic structures, leave it to their players to find the balance between lucrative club contracts and national duty. It’s a realistic approach as the peak earning potential for a cricketer is limited to a few years and offers from mushrooming T20 leagues are getting harder to ignore. As such, BCCI should take a pragmatic approach and leave it to active players to choose between central contracts and being free agents to ply their trade. The fear that India’s domestic cricket structure will be undermined is misplaced. Let the players make the choice. Remember, it’s worked well for countries that win ICC trophies. Why not India?
