The Hindu : Sport : Needed: a permanent team manager

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007
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Needed: a permanent team manager

Despite all the talk, there is a total lack of professionalism in the BCCI administration, writes Makarand Waingankar

Rahul Dravid is an ideal candidate who has all the credentials, besides being one of the top class batsmen in the world, to hold a post of responsibility in any organisation. Poise, understanding of a subject, articulate presentation with proper use of language in a dignified manner make him the perfect decision-maker. Even when he makes a wrong decision, he is trusted to have made that decision in the right spirit. But now somehow the manager on the tour of South Africa has managed to disturb him by writing about the discussions on selectorial matters in his report.

Sharu Rangnekar, the marketing guru, wrote a satire "In the wonderland of Indian managers" about the way managers operate in Indian marketing organisations. Some of the seniors in the Indian team may well have the same theme for writing a book on our managers.

For the past many years, the Indian team-management has been asking for a permanent manager for the Indian team as the players have to endure the incompetent way these temporary managers handle administration. In the '80s, one manager didn't know the difference between pound sterling and dollar. In another incident, a senior player had to help the manager on a tour to disburse allowances.

Why is the BCCI so adamant in rejecting the request of the team-management for appointment of a permanent manager? Ever since Team Pawar came to power, one has heard of nothing but corporate governance, professionalism and transparency. But all that one observes is a total lack of professionalism.

A permanent manager can keep a tab on unwanted elements frequenting the team's hotel or meeting players. With managers changing every tour or series, a manager is unlikely to know the background of a person frequenting the hotel.

Report leaked

It is evident that the report leaked to the media is authentic, or else the BCCI wouldn't have announced setting up an enquiry. The intention of the manager is also very clear. By writing about the inclusion of Sehwag, he was seeking publicity. And the sad part is that the BCCI is defending the manager instead of demanding an explanation for his comments on the selectorial matters that are not to be minuted.

At a time when the players are trying to generate a comfort zone before the World Cup, these observations of the manager must have shaken them. The players have to adapt to playing conditions for the major part of the day and need a de-stressing atmosphere. Temporary managers with little or no non-political standing in the game not only destroy their own credibility among the playing fraternity but also damage players' faith in officials.

And now that the manager has been defended by the BCCI, the players have the right to feel that the print and the electronic media are being instigated by the same officials.

The players are also unhappy that the contracts for the season haven't yet been handed over to them. And not a word from the BCCI to explain the delay. Aren't the players responsible for bringing in more than 250 crores to the BCCI coffers? Don't they deserve their share of the bounty? With the World Cup nearing, the BCCI President Sharad Pawar needs to intervene to sort out many issues. It is evident that there is a cold war going on between the players and some of the key officials of the BCCI. If this stalemate continues, it is Indian cricket that will suffer.

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