Though this post does not delve into International affairs directly, I have always believed cricket to be an important tool (read soft power). Over the years, India or rather the BCCI has come to the centre stage and dominates Cricket and its administration. A lot has been said and written about the late Jagmohan Dalmiya, who has left an indelible mark on cricket administration world over.
However, this post is on N.Srinivasan.
Srinivasan, was introduced to the world of cricket administration by his the then friend A.C.Muthiah, who was BCCI President in the early 2000s.
Not many people are aware that his father, Mr.T.S.Narayanaswami patronised education as well as sports notably, cricket. The group has been actively backing cricket teams in the TNCA First Division Chennai League for the past 4 decades.
Srinivasan has held on to the post of TNCA President since the past 14 years and also as Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and President of BCCI. He introduced the ex-players pension fund. Before this scheme was introduced, benefit matches used to be organised in aid of former cricketers. The flood gates were however, opened because of the introduction of higher broadcast revenues to Cricket from the introduction of the Indian Premier League. The IPL has changed the way the game is been played in the country. Shorter matches and intense competition has led the fans to flock the stadiums across the country.
However, with so much money at play, corruption was waiting to happen in the BCCI. A cat and mouse chase started between Lalit Modi and N.Srinivasan. Not much however is known to the public on the reasons for this. Both have been alleged to have ownership in different IPL teams. A clause concerning conflict of interest was changed to allow India Cements to buy a franchisee. In the drama that ensued, Lalit Modi left the country and brought out corruption charges against N.Srinivasan, on a daily basis. Finally, the courts intervened and with the proven misconduct of Gurunath Meiyappan, N.Srinivasan, stepped aside from the post of BCCI President. The Chennai Super Kings were handed out a 2 year ban from playing in the IPL alongwith the Rajasthan Royals, whose owners were found guilty of betting. Srinivasan, was exonerated from betting charges.
Having had to step aside, a drama played out in BCCI. Mr.Dalmiya was unanimously elected BCCI President. However, he passed away a few months after his appointment paving the way for Shashank Manohar to take over. It was then that the SC appointed the Justice RM Lodha Committee to clean up the administration of the BCCI. A lot was expected from Shashank Manohar, a senior lawyer of repute. However, he found the going tough and got himself appointed as the first Independent ICC Chairman, thereby moving away from the BCCI. A young Anurag Thakur seized the opportunity and was made the President.
The Justice Lodha Committee has called for sweeping changes in the BCCI which needs an experienced hand to guide it now. Srinivasan, many people thought, would lie low after being removed as both, BCCI and ICC President. One also, needs to remember the major decision to overhaul ICC taken by Srinivasan, he proposed that 80% of Broadcast revenue that the ICC receives should be split between the 3 major countries-India, England and Australia. This decision was reversed by the incumbent-Shashank Manohar. India's clout was set to grow and was however, thwarted by this decision.
Srinivasan seems to have decided not to move away from the limelight. The decision to start the Tamil Nadu Premier League and its unprecedented success inspite of other State cricket associations also running T20 leagues from before, points to the Midas touch that he wields. Signing up Star Sports as the broadcaster seems to have paid rich dividends. In effect, the TNPL is similar to IPL, with 8 teams competing against the other crisscrossing the state. The coup was in bringing in former cricketers of repute to commentate-Scott Styris, Dean Jones, Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden. It is noteworthy that former Indian cricketers like L.Sivaramakrishnan and Krish Shrikanth alongwith S.Ramesh, S.Sriram have played an active role in the organisation of the league alongwith their commentary duties.
Tamil Nadu has always been a fertile ground for breeding talent in Cricket and the success of the TNPL just goes on to show that if the right infrastructure is provided to players in the districts, they will shine. Shine they have, with various players like T.Natarajan, Sai Kishore, L.Suryapprakash, N.Jagadessan et al being recognised by the talent scouts.
The success has helped the spectators keep their interest alive in the game in the absence of the CSK in the IPL. It has helped the players from across TN compete in a powerful and cash rich league to get noticed. It has however, helped N.Srinivasan, pack a punch and convey the message that he maybe down but not out, just like how he brought India Cements from out of the doldrums in the mid 1990s by convincing the banks to lend to the company and pick itself up. Growth then happened thanks to the boom in the construction and infrastructure sector.
The battles plaguing BCCI is far from over. It is however time for the BCCI to consider making the stadiums spectator friendly.
The overall winner, in this battle royale, between the administrators, however is Cricket!
However, this post is on N.Srinivasan.
Srinivasan, was introduced to the world of cricket administration by his the then friend A.C.Muthiah, who was BCCI President in the early 2000s.
Not many people are aware that his father, Mr.T.S.Narayanaswami patronised education as well as sports notably, cricket. The group has been actively backing cricket teams in the TNCA First Division Chennai League for the past 4 decades.
Srinivasan has held on to the post of TNCA President since the past 14 years and also as Treasurer, Honorary Secretary and President of BCCI. He introduced the ex-players pension fund. Before this scheme was introduced, benefit matches used to be organised in aid of former cricketers. The flood gates were however, opened because of the introduction of higher broadcast revenues to Cricket from the introduction of the Indian Premier League. The IPL has changed the way the game is been played in the country. Shorter matches and intense competition has led the fans to flock the stadiums across the country.
However, with so much money at play, corruption was waiting to happen in the BCCI. A cat and mouse chase started between Lalit Modi and N.Srinivasan. Not much however is known to the public on the reasons for this. Both have been alleged to have ownership in different IPL teams. A clause concerning conflict of interest was changed to allow India Cements to buy a franchisee. In the drama that ensued, Lalit Modi left the country and brought out corruption charges against N.Srinivasan, on a daily basis. Finally, the courts intervened and with the proven misconduct of Gurunath Meiyappan, N.Srinivasan, stepped aside from the post of BCCI President. The Chennai Super Kings were handed out a 2 year ban from playing in the IPL alongwith the Rajasthan Royals, whose owners were found guilty of betting. Srinivasan, was exonerated from betting charges.
Having had to step aside, a drama played out in BCCI. Mr.Dalmiya was unanimously elected BCCI President. However, he passed away a few months after his appointment paving the way for Shashank Manohar to take over. It was then that the SC appointed the Justice RM Lodha Committee to clean up the administration of the BCCI. A lot was expected from Shashank Manohar, a senior lawyer of repute. However, he found the going tough and got himself appointed as the first Independent ICC Chairman, thereby moving away from the BCCI. A young Anurag Thakur seized the opportunity and was made the President.
The Justice Lodha Committee has called for sweeping changes in the BCCI which needs an experienced hand to guide it now. Srinivasan, many people thought, would lie low after being removed as both, BCCI and ICC President. One also, needs to remember the major decision to overhaul ICC taken by Srinivasan, he proposed that 80% of Broadcast revenue that the ICC receives should be split between the 3 major countries-India, England and Australia. This decision was reversed by the incumbent-Shashank Manohar. India's clout was set to grow and was however, thwarted by this decision.
Srinivasan seems to have decided not to move away from the limelight. The decision to start the Tamil Nadu Premier League and its unprecedented success inspite of other State cricket associations also running T20 leagues from before, points to the Midas touch that he wields. Signing up Star Sports as the broadcaster seems to have paid rich dividends. In effect, the TNPL is similar to IPL, with 8 teams competing against the other crisscrossing the state. The coup was in bringing in former cricketers of repute to commentate-Scott Styris, Dean Jones, Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden. It is noteworthy that former Indian cricketers like L.Sivaramakrishnan and Krish Shrikanth alongwith S.Ramesh, S.Sriram have played an active role in the organisation of the league alongwith their commentary duties.
Tamil Nadu has always been a fertile ground for breeding talent in Cricket and the success of the TNPL just goes on to show that if the right infrastructure is provided to players in the districts, they will shine. Shine they have, with various players like T.Natarajan, Sai Kishore, L.Suryapprakash, N.Jagadessan et al being recognised by the talent scouts.
The success has helped the spectators keep their interest alive in the game in the absence of the CSK in the IPL. It has helped the players from across TN compete in a powerful and cash rich league to get noticed. It has however, helped N.Srinivasan, pack a punch and convey the message that he maybe down but not out, just like how he brought India Cements from out of the doldrums in the mid 1990s by convincing the banks to lend to the company and pick itself up. Growth then happened thanks to the boom in the construction and infrastructure sector.
The battles plaguing BCCI is far from over. It is however time for the BCCI to consider making the stadiums spectator friendly.
The overall winner, in this battle royale, between the administrators, however is Cricket!
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