It’s official— former Indian skipper Kapil Dev and the BCCI have
buried their differences. On Wednesday, the Indian board president N
Srinivasan flew down to Mumbai and later, after a short meeting,
conveyed that he looked forward to a “fruitful association” with the
one-time blacklisted former player.
For the last five years, starting from when he threw his lot in with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), Essel group’s rebel initiative, Kapil had a falling out with the BCCI. As recently as a couple of months back, Kapil didn’t figure in the comprehensive list of former players that received a one-time financial benefit, that came from the Indian Premier League’s earning.
However, the board has immediately released a one-time benefit payment of Rs 1.5 crore apart from his pending pension of Rs 35,000 per month over the last five years.
The truce was on the cards ever since the BCCI president Srinivasan had raised the issue of Kapil’s amnesty at the working committee meeting earlier this month.
Welcoming Kapil back, Srinivasan said: “Kapil has informed the Board that he has resigned from the Essel Sports Private Limited / ICL. He has also stated in the letter that he has always supported the BCCI, and will continue to do so in the future. The BCCI looks forward to a fruitful association with him in the years to come.”
Kapil in turn called it a home-coming. “BCCI is like a parent and we are like its children. Actually, we are emotional people but BCCI has done a lot for Indian cricket and I am happy to be associated with them,” he said.
The sudden compromise between the erstwhile rivals has, however, raised a few eyebrows. Just a few months back, Kapil had been extremely vocal in bringing the BCCI under the RTI Act, something that gave the Indian cricket administrators the jitters. Kapil’s statement had lent more weight to Sports Minister Ajay Maken’s ambition of bringing the BCCI under government regulation.
“I think nobody is above the government or law, it may be the cricket board or any other association. Perhaps it personally hurts BCCI and so they are saying no to this bill. I don’t mind losing anything if my country is benefitted and that should be the mentality,” Kapil had earlier said.
In his role as a television commentator, Kapil had also been critical of the packed calender and the BCCI’s inability to address the issue. With the other icon of the past — Sunil Gavaskar — too taking on the board over outstanding payments due to him and his reservations over the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, the BCCI was fast losing friends. The decision to reach out to Kapil is seen as a compromise in this direction.
Ex-players welcome decision
Bishan Singh Bedi,Kapil's first skipper, hailed the BCCI’s decision. “All these years, Kapil must have been very tense. It was a fair amount of time and there wasn't any need for it. Kapil still has so much to contribute to Indian cricket. Kapil must have understood that BCCI is still a parent body and one should give due respect to it,” Bedi said.
Dilip Vengsarkar also reiterated that Kapil has a lot to contribute to Indian cricket. “His tremendous knowledge of fast bowling could be utilised by the BCCI in producing quality bowlers which is the need of the hour for Indian cricket,” Vengsarkar added.
What next?
While Kapil Dev is not expected to get a role with the board until the BCCI set-up changes in September, sources suggest that he might be inducted into the IPL governing council next season or take back his duties as chairman of National Cricket Academy — a position from which he was sacked in 2007 for joining the ICL.
For the last five years, starting from when he threw his lot in with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), Essel group’s rebel initiative, Kapil had a falling out with the BCCI. As recently as a couple of months back, Kapil didn’t figure in the comprehensive list of former players that received a one-time financial benefit, that came from the Indian Premier League’s earning.
However, the board has immediately released a one-time benefit payment of Rs 1.5 crore apart from his pending pension of Rs 35,000 per month over the last five years.
The truce was on the cards ever since the BCCI president Srinivasan had raised the issue of Kapil’s amnesty at the working committee meeting earlier this month.
Welcoming Kapil back, Srinivasan said: “Kapil has informed the Board that he has resigned from the Essel Sports Private Limited / ICL. He has also stated in the letter that he has always supported the BCCI, and will continue to do so in the future. The BCCI looks forward to a fruitful association with him in the years to come.”
Kapil in turn called it a home-coming. “BCCI is like a parent and we are like its children. Actually, we are emotional people but BCCI has done a lot for Indian cricket and I am happy to be associated with them,” he said.
The sudden compromise between the erstwhile rivals has, however, raised a few eyebrows. Just a few months back, Kapil had been extremely vocal in bringing the BCCI under the RTI Act, something that gave the Indian cricket administrators the jitters. Kapil’s statement had lent more weight to Sports Minister Ajay Maken’s ambition of bringing the BCCI under government regulation.
“I think nobody is above the government or law, it may be the cricket board or any other association. Perhaps it personally hurts BCCI and so they are saying no to this bill. I don’t mind losing anything if my country is benefitted and that should be the mentality,” Kapil had earlier said.
In his role as a television commentator, Kapil had also been critical of the packed calender and the BCCI’s inability to address the issue. With the other icon of the past — Sunil Gavaskar — too taking on the board over outstanding payments due to him and his reservations over the resumption of India-Pakistan cricket ties, the BCCI was fast losing friends. The decision to reach out to Kapil is seen as a compromise in this direction.
Ex-players welcome decision
Bishan Singh Bedi,Kapil's first skipper, hailed the BCCI’s decision. “All these years, Kapil must have been very tense. It was a fair amount of time and there wasn't any need for it. Kapil still has so much to contribute to Indian cricket. Kapil must have understood that BCCI is still a parent body and one should give due respect to it,” Bedi said.
Dilip Vengsarkar also reiterated that Kapil has a lot to contribute to Indian cricket. “His tremendous knowledge of fast bowling could be utilised by the BCCI in producing quality bowlers which is the need of the hour for Indian cricket,” Vengsarkar added.
What next?
While Kapil Dev is not expected to get a role with the board until the BCCI set-up changes in September, sources suggest that he might be inducted into the IPL governing council next season or take back his duties as chairman of National Cricket Academy — a position from which he was sacked in 2007 for joining the ICL.
