Ramachandra Guha resigned his post from the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. He had written a letter citing reasons that made him take the decision.
In the letter, Guha criticises Committee of Administrators, saying that they were a silent spectator on issues like conflict of interest, the Anil Kumble-Virat Kohli ‘rift’ and treating domestic players at par.
He has said in the letter that COA has not taken any action against BCCI for its various practices where it has accorded preferential treatment to some national coaches, by giving them ten-month contracts for national duty, thus allowing them to work as IPL coaches/mentors for the remaining two months. This was done in an adhoc and arbitrary manner; the more famous the former player-turned-coach, the more likely was the BCCI to allow him to draft his own contract that left loopholes that he exploited to dodge the conflict of interest issue.
Guhan also says in his letter that it is contrary to the spirit of the Lodha Committee for coaches or the support staff of the Indian senior or junior team, or for staff at the National Cricket Academy, to have contracts in the Indian Premier League. One cannot have dual loyalties of this kind and do proper justice to both. National duty must take precedence over club affiliation.
He further states that, though he had brought it to the notice of COA, even after he had urged that no person under contract with an India team, or with the NCA, should be allowed to moonlight for an IPL team, none paid heed to this. As the national coach who was supposed to be at camp scheduled for young players at the National Cricket Academy had been sent away for IPL work.
Also, he points that BCCI has drafted coaching/support staff contracts to allow this dual loyalty business, but while it might be narrowly legal as per existing contracts, it is unethical, and antithetical to team spirit, leading to much jealousy and heartburn among the coaching staff as a whole. This practice is plainly wrong, as well as antithetical to the interests of Indian cricket.
Though was asked to retract this process, BCCI continued with it.
He also says that BCCI and the whole Indian Cricket scenario is in ‘Superstar Syndrome’ where the named and class players having a star image are being allowed to breach the contract.
Guha points out players such M S Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar. Where he accuses Gavaskar though is a head of a company which represents Indian cricketers while commenting on those cricketers as part of the BCCI TV commentary panel.
M S Dhoni was also was captain of the Indian team while holding a stake in a firm that represented some current India players.
In his letter, Guha says that BCCI being awe with the ‘Superstar Syndrome’ seems to be blind about the breach of contract being done by the players, such as MS Dhoni who has been given Class A contract even after he had retired from Test matches. The way Anil Kumble the current Head Coach of the senior team, has been handled, though the team has been giving a good performance, his contract has been cut short, instead of extending it.
He criticises about the callous treatment given to domestic cricket and cricketers, namely, those who represent their state in the Ranji Trophy, the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and other inter-state tournaments. The IPL may be Indian cricket’s showpiece, but he asks why the revenue is not being used make our domestic players more financially secure. Also, the fees of Ranji Trophy players are ever time low, such that sometimes the cash/cheque been send to the players are not passed on by the state associations to the players.
He says that several months ago, the experienced cricket administrator Amrit Mathur prepared an excellent note on the need for better and fairer treatment of domestic players. But neither COA or BCCI took interest to implement them.
Also, the COA is having an absence of a respected male cricketer,, though was recommended to take a person on board non heeded the suggestion.
Guha concludes the letter stating that his position should be filled by a senior cricketer with administrative experience. he suggests Javagal Srinath to be taken in his position.
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