JOIN USThe bill was rejected in the Cabinet meeting and it was ironical that the unity displayed by the Cabinet a few days ago to yield to Hazare’s determination evaporated in no time.
The proposed bill was supposedly aimed at bringing about transparency and also giving former sportspersons opportunities to administer the sport.
But the fact is that most of the sports governing bodies are already part of the National Sports Federation (NSF). That being the case, it is not a crime if one were to presume that the Sports Ministry wants to bring the IOA and the cash-rich BCCI under its clutches.
I have used the word ‘clutches‘ because past history has proved that government-aided sports bodies have supposedly not been allowed to be either transparent or objective. On the other hand, the autonomy that BCCI has enjoyed has allowed it to not only rake in huge sums of money but has also made cricket the number one sport in India.
The Sports Minister’s contention is that the law would prevent another CWG scandal. The main sales pitch is that all the bodies will come under the RTI Act. Now the question is, can any organisation be absolutely corruption-free merely because it comes under the RTI Act? The recent arrests of top-level civil servants in various cities have proved otherwise.
Conversely, because the BCCI is autonomous and is reluctant to come under the RTI Act does not mean it has a lot of skeletons in its cupboard. There can be no doubt that the BCCI is easily the best administered sports body in the country, despite some vagaries. Moreover, the financial dealings of the BCCI are public knowledge as anything related to cricket is big news.
The BCCI has followed a system wherein the office-bearers cannot hold a post for more than four years. This has probably enabled the BCCI to keep pace with the current needs of the sport, and thereby succeed in exploiting the market forces. It is hard to believe that Corporate India supports cricket and the BCCI without bothering to check on the veracity of its operations. Besides, the BCCI has also pledged financial support to other sports and has given Rs 50 crore to the All India Football Federation.
ICC mandate
One also has to realise that the International Cricket Council has made it clear that its affiliates have to be free from Government interference for the smooth functioning of the game at the global level. This leaves the BCCI with no other option but to fight for the retention of its autonomy. However, the BCCI has to take into account the fact that it requires the support of the Government as well.
I am positive that the BCCI will not be too fussy about coming under the RTI Act even though it doesn’t have to, on technical grounds. Therefore, the Sports Minister would do well to discuss his intentions with the BCCI and sort out the issues. After all, it is only natural to expect sportsmanship from the Sports Minister, isn’t it?
(The writer is a former India cricketer, currently coaching the Bengal Ranji Trophy team.)
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