The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Time to involve the seniors while planning the schedule

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Time to involve the seniors while planning the schedule

England and Australia have spaced out their schedules well, writes Makarand Waingankar

The principle of periodisation is so important in any sport that ignoring it could be detrimental to the growth of a sportsman. In Indian cricket, we don't seem to believe even remotely in it, considering the way we are adding to matches in the already cramped Future Tour Programme (FTP) of the ICC.

No country will be playing as many matches as India during the 2007-08 season (15 Tests and 43 ODIs). Compare this with England (11 and 29), Australia (11 and 29), South Africa (15 and 19), New Zealand (five and 13), Pakistan (eight and 21), Sri Lanka (10 and 30) and West Indies (13 and 19).

It's mind-boggling but true that the Indians will be travelling and will be away from their families for not less than 200 days. When the BCCI countered the other day that the other countries are playing the same amount of cricket, one was left wondering about the basis of their argument.

The FTP makes it amply clear that India asked for more engagements than the others. Had that not been the case, other countries too would have had to play close to what India would be playing during the season. While India would be busy playing 118 days of international cricket and playing matches in Ireland and other places, Australia and England have planned their calendar properly.

Well planned

England, with 85 days, and Australia (83) have spaced out their schedules well, giving their cricketers more time to play in the domestic tournaments.

When talking about the playing days, one tends to overlook the fact that on tours you need to constantly travel to play other side games and that leaves hardly any time for training or recuperating.

The Technical Committee, with Sunil Gavaskar as its Chairman, is meeting in Bangalore on June 4 to discuss the issues, most of which have been discussed by the Working Committee.

Shouldn't the Technical Committee be involved in planning the international schedule? The Marketing committee of the BCCI boasts that it markets the game better than the others, but our cricketers are going to struggle with fitness while playing more matches. It will affect their performance and that will affect the marketing process.

Focus on money

Why would any sponsor put in money when the product will not get the mileage the sponsor is looking for? If the Marketing Committee of the BCCI makes a presentation to the Technical Committee, things could be sorted out but if the focus is on playing more games to earn more money, India might be having all the experienced seniors sitting in the commentary box by the end of the 2008 season.

Why aren't the senior cricketers consulted the way seniors are consulted by Cricket Australia and the English Cricket Board? The best way to find a solution is to involve the seniors of the Indian team in decision-making.

Let's not treat our international cricketers like bonded labour. It's their performances that the BCCI is marketing. We need to treat them with respect.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport