In a recent move, the BCCI made significant changes to the IPL Governing council. In essence, they slashed its size, removed some of the people close to Lalit Modi, reduced its tenure, and slashed the salary of the cricket members from Rs. 1 crore to zero!
One of my all time favourite sports heroes Sunil Gavaskar was a member of the IPL Governing council until last year. Gavaskar is known to be fearless, and always speaks his mind. He should have been contacted well before the IPL changes were announced, and his views taken into account before the decisions were taken. However it was quite a shame that Gavaskar found out about the changes from a TV News channel.
For me, Gavaskar is one of the three best Indian cricketers to ever play the game. He opened the Indian batting in an era when at least four other Test playing nations had their best fast bowling attacks in their history - all at the same time. Pakistan had Imran and Sarfraz, Australia had Lillee, Thomson, Pascoe and Walker, New Zealand had Richard Hadlee, and of course the West Indies had Roberts, Holding, Garner, and Marshall. Gavaskar stood firm against all these attacks, and just piled on the runs. Not just the volume of runs - his versatility was unbelievable. And he just looked incredibly good doing it! Every time Gavaskar came out to bat, I felt goose bumps. I don't think I have ever seen a better player of short bowling - the only other player who comes close is Viv Richards. I don't think it is a coincidence that neither of these players ever used a helmet.
The BCCI should have been proud that this giant of Indian cricket was part of the IPL. However I am not surprised that the bumbling board has managed to lose Gavaskar.
Gavaskar pointed out, quite rightly, that the IPL is a commercial organization, and therefore it is wrong to expect the cricket members of the Governing Council to work in an honorary capacity. Everyone - the franchises, the players, the sponsors, and the BCCI are making huge sums of money from this event. To expect the cricket members of the IPL Governing council to work pro bono is just plain stupid.
Well done Sunil in calling out the BCCI on this issue, and doing the right thing by refusing to play their game. I only wish Ravi Shastri had done the same.
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