What would you rather have, Sachin Tendulkar playing his 200th Test versus South Africa at Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, or the West Indies at Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata or wherever else?
Whatever the public posturing, if a truth serum was administered to officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, I dare say an overwhelming majority would opt for the first-mentioned scenario.
It’s a no-brainer actually. The world’s no. 1 ranked team (SA) versus no. 3 (India) topped up with the prospect of seeing one of the greatest batsmen of all time not just reach a memorable milestone, but also perhaps for the last time in action, suggests a blockbuster.
Why then has it been reduced to a potboiler?
Part commerce, part vendetta, part foolish cricketing diplomacy make up this unsavoury melodrama. Suggestions that the West Indies tour has been squeezed in to allow Tendulkar easy passage in this landmark Test are puerile and belittle the master batsman’s achievements and stature.
Commercial considerations, on the other hand, make for an impeccable premise to alter the Indian team’s itineraries over the next six months. That Tendulkar’s 200th Test match will result in a windfall for the BCCI is undisputable.
The obvious question that arises then is why did the BCCI not schedule the West Indies series much earlier? Why this belated reaction?
By all accounts, the appointment of Haroon Lorgat as CEO of Cricket South Africa has not gone down well with the BCCI. One might justifiably ask what business is it of the BCCI to dispute this. But there are some unhappy memories — not piffling either —- associated with Lorgat that still rankle Indian cricket administrators.
Lorgat, who was ICC chief executive before becoming CEO of CSA, was seen as wanting to thrust the Decision Review System down the BCCI’s throat. Srinivasan, as BCCI chief, was vehement in his opposition the DRS.
The assumption, however, that the current imbroglio is a result of a personality clash between Lorgat and Srinivasan and centred around the DRS is at best a half-truth. Disenchantment within the BCCI with Lorgat runs deeper and earlier as the demand for an ‘apology’ from him by interim president Jagmohan Dalmiya reveals.
During the 2011 World Cup, it might be remembered, Lorgat had taken the marquee England-India contest away from Kolkata because he felt the Eden Gardens was not ready to host the match. The BCCI was left red-faced and Jagmohan Dalmiya (CAB president) fuming at what they thought was Lorgat’s “high-handedness.’’
To complicate current matters is that Lorgat, after assuming stewardship of CSA, released the Indian team’s itinerary without consulting the BCCI. This was seen as yet another example of his high-handedness. Though ratification of the tour was only academic, given his past brushes with the BCCI, Lorgat could have been less impetuous.
After being shown the finger by the BCCI, Lorgat has now adopted a conciliatory approach, even agreeing to ‘apologise’ if that would resolve an imbroglio that threatens to leave CSA poorer by 100million rand.
Which brings us to the crux of the issue: can anything be done to salvage the tour of South Africa from being reduced to a sideshow instead of the main draw this season?
In my opinion, when Lorgat and BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel meet next week-end at an ICC conclave, every effort should be made to get at least three Tests included in the itinerary by juggling around dates. With some give and take, this is possible.
This does not mean back-tracking on the offer to the West Indies or Tendulkar’s 200th Test being played at home. Indeed, I don’t think Tendulkar or his impending landmark is germane to the issue any more. Rather, it is need to test the ‘made-over’ India team — now powered by a plethora of young, talented, ambitious players — in daunting conditions.
With or without Tendulkar, this is a mouth-watering contest and can only enrich Indian cricket. The big picture is that it also enhances the status Test cricket which, as the pre-eminent cricketing body in the world, the BCCI must have on its agenda.
As I see it, point scored, the BCCI is now in the happy position to eat its cake and have it too. Why not go for it!