The Deodhar Trophy being played currently in the Central Zone venues epitomises the attitude and the bad planning of the BCCI when it comes to domestic cricket. The tournament dates have been fixed close on the heels of the recently concluded India-Zimbabwe one-day series. With the travelling time involved in India it is impossible for the players to play all the matches even if they have the inclination. Some young players who figured in the Indian side have been left out of their zonal teams because they could not have joined their zonal side in time for the first match.

The BCCI President, Dr. AC Muthiah stressed that the domestic circuit will not be ignored and also that the top players in the country would be made to play major domestic tournaments. True to his mandate, he sent Sharad Diwadkar, the Executive Secretary of the BCCI to various states to collect suggestions to enhance the importance of domestic cricket from former cricketers. Discussions were held about the format, participation of top cricketers in the Ranji, Duleep tournaments during the off-season. The only resultant change was in the format of these tournaments with the Ranji Trophy restored to its original league-cum knock out format and the Duleep once again is to be played on a total league basis. Unfortunately, the fixtures committee seems to have missed the most important point - the dates of the tournaments.

There is a possibility of the Duleep Trophy being interesting because the Indian team has no engagements during that time. This is a mere coincidence for the simple reason that the Indo-Pak has been cancelled. Had it gone according to plans, once again the domestic season would have been as insipid and uninspiring as the statements of one of the BCCI officials. Some of the venues for the Duleep trophy are once again more of a deterrent not only to the game but also to the players wanting to play. The need to play these major games on regular test venues was stressed but the policy of distributing matches with an eye for the future (the administrators') seems to be the top priority.

Admittedly the BCCI has been through rough times in the wake of this match fixing controversy, but there seems to be an air of indifference prevailing upon some of the office-bearers of the apex body. The statements of one of the disciplinary committee's members are the limit. The chief of the BCCI has handled the match fixing controversy with a firm hand despite being pressurised by various quarters. The division in the BCCI with regard to the punishment of the players found guilty is indicative of the fact that some forces are hell bent on putting the cat among the pigeons. Eventually, the President has prevailed over the faction, which wanted the exoneration of the tainted players. It is a matter of pride that the BCCI has shown the way to the entire World by going the whole hog. It is definitely a slap on some countries, which view the integrity of the Asian countries with disdain and adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. In fact they have done nothing but provide loud lip service.

The match fixing controversy has provided a great need for the BCCI to show its character. It has passed the first test with credit by punishing the cricketers though the quantum of punishment will also be debatable. Manoj Prabhakar, who has figured in the guilty list despite pleading innocence, has cast aspersions on some officials. Though his views have to be treated with circumspection, he may have a point or two. After all he may be the right person to get the information from when it comes to identifying the tainted characters. If not to prove him wrong, this is the most convenient time for the BCCI to rid of the various niggling issues and the nagging identities.

In the one-year period that Dr.Muthiah has been in the office he has had to tackle controversial issues one after the other. The travails in his own business apart, he has faced the music with courage and taken hard decisions despite lacking the necessary support from his colleagues at times in the BCCI. As this may be the last season under his stewardship, he might as well establish a pattern in the planning of the domestic circuit, which is what is the backbone of the game. Australia has retained its stature in World cricket because the ACB has not ignored the domestic tournaments at any stage. If anything, they are still trying to devise ways and means to bring about a right balance in scheduling the international and national matches.

The BCCI has been interacting with the ACB and the Australian thought process in the last six months and quite obviously ideas that suit the Indian cricket should be absorbed and implemented. Otherwise it will just be a case where a couple of Australians go back with thicker wallets and it will reflect badly on an industrialist like Dr. AC Muthiah for not getting enough value for money. So far he has shown a tough stand which has earned him a lot of support in the BCCI and as they say, he should strike while the iron is hot.

© Woorkheri Raman