The BCCI may be forced to look at the reality of Indian cricket in the eye rather than offer it a bored, distracted glance
By - HARSHABHOGLE

The ICL isn’t about cricket, neither is the BCCI. One is, and the other hopes to be, about making profits in a booming market. There isn’t anything wrong with that as long as you state it upfront. And yet, by nature’s wonderful way of sorting things, a confrontation is on the cards and both, at least the BCCI, will be forced to think about Indian cricket, that poor little rich kid that nobody loves.

That is why challenges are good, that is the positive side of free market existence. We are all driven out of comfort zones and forced to confront the truth. Batsmen rediscover the urge to play longer innings when a younger challenger knocks at the door, writers spend an hour more on their columns, airlines drop prices and offer better deals. The BCCI may be forced to look at the reality of Indian cricket in the eye rather than offer it a bored, distracted glance. What fun.

All sport has to be about three things. Revenues and therefore, profits; the players; and the spectators. Normally, in a good competitive environment, the first of those should derive from the second and the third.

If the players are well prepared and play good cricket, the spectators and viewers come in and revenues rise. But in a monopoly, you don’t have to worry too much about players and spectators; just as Indian Airlines didn’t need to worry too much about passengers. But if the ICL does reasonably well, and provides the players and the spectators with an option, the BCCI will be forced to think about them; like Indian Airlines had to with the arrival of private carriers.

And so I think the BCCI will be forced to stop doing stupid things like going to Australia seven or eight days before the first Test with only one three-day game to get used to the conditions. At the moment, I am pretty certain they know it is wrong but I am just as certain they don’t worry too much about it because revenues are independent of players and spectators, products and customers. But if India look unprepared for Australia and do badly, and if viewers have the option of switching, the BCCI might be forced into doing something right. There is always another way of getting there, remember!

At the moment though, the ICL is a concoction of has-beens and never-will-bes. And you have to wonder about some of the former players jumping at the opportunity of filling their pockets. They are a bit like call centre companies—anyone who wants a job is welcome—but I guess they have no choice at the moment for they must start with they have. But it is in their long term intent that I believe their success will eventually lie. Zee have been quick off the blocks with most things they have done in television but it is their vision that will be tested.

They have had chief executives walk in and out every year, ambitious programmes vanish quietly and while they give the impression of being nimble you don’t always know if they are in it for the long haul. If I was a young cricketer today, I would want to be convinced of intent.

There are also three key questions: who, where and when? We have some inkling of the who but have no idea of the when and the where. What are the teams going to be called? Are they looking to establish a culture of city rivalry? If, for example, Mumbai is one of the teams, are there enough players from Mumbai for the Mumbaikar to wear a team shirt with pride? The US leagues can do that and so can the Premiership (how many London players, or for that matter England players, are there at Chelsea and Arsenal?) because they have a long history of local affiliation.

The irony of it all is that Lalit Modi wanted to start a similar league ten years ago and found the door being shut on him by the BCCI. Now Modi is in the BCCI and his organisation is shutting the door on what was really his idea! But there is an opportunity here, maybe two, for the BCCI. If more players leave the Ranji Trophy it can actually become more competitive because Indian cricket needs fewer, not more, players.

And they can start a similar league that could well be more attractive and profitable. But will they? If you are used to having people come to you to buy tickets it is very difficult to go to them to sell tickets!

I hope the ICL has a good debut though it seems that they are more at the start of a steeplechase than in the final straight. It will be good for Indian cricket and, if they want to look at it that way, best for the BCCI!