BCCI have all rights to object Indian Government from controlling them and at same time they are subjected to accept a move under RTI. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is a private body and it by no means can be called as Indian sports body. So, that means so far Sachin, Dravid, Dhoni and all other players represented BCCI team not Indian team? Answer is straight yes.
From the beginning, BCCI is not under the control of Indian government any time and it is evolved to the current state through some brilliant planning and execution by its members. Still BCCI hasn’t doing all this alone as it received many indirect help from Indian government in the forms of tax exceptions, stadium availability, security providing, travelling arrangements, etc.,
As a private body, BCCI is not entitled to anyone not even to the public of India when it comes to their rules and procedures being followed. BCCI is like an organization run on his own with players at lower level and management at top level. Just like in any cricket field, peoples are mere spectators here. BCCI form their own rules, discuss between them and approve among them about what to be followed and how it to be done. BCCI doesn’t need to explain anything such as on what grounds selection for the post of BCCI post is done, how finance management is done, how broadcastings rights are approved, procedures and routines that are been followed, decisions about sacking coaching staff or removing member of BCCI, amount sent to each state associations, etc., to anyone not even to the Government of India.
Now if BCCI comes under RTI i.e. Right to Information Act, then they are entitled to both the people of India and Government of India. BCCI has to submit the audits details to government on yearly basis and also publish it so that all the peoples of India can read it. BCCI must release all the details like for example players contract details, criteria’s on what basis team is selected and list of players the who are considered for the selection, the exact amount for which broadcasting rights are sold and to whom, IPL auction details and salary given by each IPL team to players, etc., In short, BCCI actions will be transparent. Not only the members of BCCI, all the peoples and government of India will know all the details. The election for BCCI posts need to be recorded which can be telecasted live and documented too which needs to be released.
Hereafter as a citizen of India I can come to know how the players are selected, cash income and expenditure, contract details between IPL teams & BCCI and IPL teams & players, complete details of coach reports after each tour/series, minutes of each BCCI meetings and everything as a stakeholder I need to know, will be made to know. This move will make the people of India as stakeholders rather than just spectators. This will put the end for a question whether players representing country or BCCI.
The new Sports Bill not only wants BCCI to come under RTI but all other 44 sports bodies which are already under the government too. BCCI can negotiate on how much control government can have on them because they earned the current status. Government doesn’t do anything to telecast the 83 world cup final and also refused to provide any reward after India won it. BCCI gave rewards to players by raising money through organizing functions helped by Lata Mangeskar who sung for nothing in return. All this years, BCCI developed the game so much without any direct help from government and they deserve to continue in that way without anyone controlling from the top but in transparent manner.
