Following the success of Chak De India and on the release of Dhan Dhanadan Goal, if the Bollywood directors are looking for a good sports movie they should look to the BCCI for inspiration. It would be a comedy and a certain hit.

Since the World Cup, the Indian board's mishaps include failure to appoint a coach, sorting out television rights, players unpaid for long periods, contract problems, a needless run-in with ICL, and supporting the Aussie board for their stand on press credentials.

It's lucky India have been playing well so the search for a new coach has been on the back burner.  After appointing Dav Whatmore they dallied, then came Graham Ford, who changed his mind because of the way Whatmore was treated. Now we are told a coach will be appointed before the crucial tour to Australia. With the BCCI running the appointment, don't hold your breath.

'If you watched the recent series against Australia and Pakistan then you will know how bad the boradcasting was with commercial breaks at the most important times'


The TV rights went down a similar road. The BCCI were on verge of going to Zee Sports but changed to Neo Sports. If you watched the recent series against Australia and Pakistan, then you will know how bad the broaddcasting was with commercial breaks at the most important times (seeing a player's reaction after taking a wicket or the celebrations after a win).

Compare this with Channel 9 in Australia, which uses the most up-to-date technology and employs the very best commentators like Ian Chappell and Richie Benaud. Neo Sports have Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who is annoying, to say the least.

I don't know how far the players' salary issue has progressed. India have been winning so there is no dispute between board and players and morale is high after the Twenty20 success.

Now on to ICL. The BCCI are worried about a coup but ICL have made it clear that their only aim is to give promising players exposure. If the BCCI are so concerned about improving the quality of cricket in India, they would not have taken such a stance. Their decision to go head-to-head with ICL by introducing the IPL and force all international boards to follow them is wrong. The money-minded BCCI are only concerend about balance sheets and power.

And why are the BCCI so worried about selectors criticising Dilip Vengsarkar? India is a democratic country and the selectors are doing themselves no favours by dropping players and immediately picking them again.

Finally, supporting the Australian board on their stand against the press only adds fuel to the fire. Cricket is not a global sport like football and without publicity it will never grow.