Hindustan Times: New Delhi: Thursday,
May 05, 2016.
The
Indian cricket board’s nomination of Virat Kohli for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna, the biggest government sports award, is sure to add buzz to this year’s
list, but the decision is rather odd.
The
BCCI is arguing in the Supreme Court that it is an independent and private body
and can’t be forced to make the root-and-branch administrative changes
recommended by the Justice RM Lodha Committee, which went into the 2013 IPL
spot-fixing scandal and conflict of interest issues.
The
Apex court has said the cash-rich BCCI is a public body as it essentially
carries out a public function.
RTI factor
Same
is the case when it comes to BCCI versus the government. The Board has refused
to come under the Right to Information Act., one of the key aspects of the
central government’s Sports Bill.
In
fact, the BCCI even briefly kept away from making recommendations for the Khel
Ratna and Arjuna awards, which was seen as a cautious step to avoid the
government forcing it to come under RTI.
But
it is not all about entitlement and empowerment. If the nomination of Kohli is
accepted, India’s Test captain will become only the third cricketer to get the
Khel Ratna since it was established in 1991.
Although
he is currently enjoying a golden run with the bat across formats, it will be
an occasion to look back at the inconsistency of it all.
Only
two cricketers Sachin Tendulkar in 1997 and MS Dhoni in 2007 have been given
the Khel Ratna. Those nominated but discarded include Anil Kumble and Rahul
Dravid. India’s most successful Test bowler took 10 wickets in a Test innings
against eternal rivals Pakistan in 1999.
Although
such a feat was achieved only for the second time in the game’s history, the
spin great was not picked. Dhanraj Pillay, skipper of the 1998 Asian
Games-winning hockey team, won the accolade.
Dravid
being one of the game’s great batsmen or his record of captaining India to key
overseas Test series wins didn’t weigh in his favour after being recommended in
2005 and 2012.
That
brings us to the question whether cricket needs to be included in the list of
eligible sports in the first place.
Convenience
The
BCCI, liberated by the fact that it doesn’t need government grants, has refused
to fall in line, although it requests authorities to provide security for
matches.
The
government, though, insisting that cricket should not be exempted from RTI, has
gone the distance by making an exception. The eligibility rules bunch winners
at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other major international
meets.
It
acknowledges that BCCI is not recognised but welcomes recommendations from it.
“In
case of cricket, for which no National Sports Federation has been recognised by
the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, nominations from the Board for
Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) will be invited,” says the relevant clause.
It
further adds: “For cricket and indigenous games, not included in Olympic/Asian
Games/Commonwealth Games disciplines, the Selection Committee will take into
consideration their individual performances.”
Cricket
is a mass game in India, although the argument that few teams play at the
highest level is never too far away. But its standing means honouring a
cricketer is also crucial to raise the fan base around the awards.
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