A season of no-confidence | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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A season of no-confidence

None | ByAtul Sondhi
May 17, 2007 02:49 PM IST

From Dav Whatmore's no to coaching Pakistan to Sourav Ganguly's no to joining ICL, there's been several such instances. Atul Sondhi presents a detailed account.

Sponsors' no to BCCI: It was due for long, but probably BCCI was oblivious to it. The apex body of Indian cricket simply does not believe in any "worst case scenario". No surprise that it was too late to react.

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No sponsor looks interested in the forthcoming India's matches in Ireland and Scotland. After all, a base price of two-and-a-half crore per match involving a team, sweating it out to beat Bangladesh, can't be called a cheap deal by any standards. At least the sponsors do not think so.

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Probably, the marketmen will want BCCI to see the reality before they step in with cash. Till then, no confidence in the "exposure viability" at such a steep price.

Players' no to ICC: Again, this was expected after a lacklustre World Cup with predictable problems and even more predictable winner. But this time, the vote of no confidence comes from a selected bunch of players.

The fact that nine out of every ten players have given a thumbs down to the ICC for the way it organized the World Cup is a matter of serious concern.

The survey covered a wide spectrum of issues involving the ICC, and lambasted the way member committees are constituted. However, absolving Malcolm speed of any wrongdoing does belie reason. Is he not the mastermind?

Australia's no to Zimbabwe: It would have been a terrible sporting mismatch, and the cricketing fraternity can be thankful to Howard for sparing them the 'mauling of a minnows'.

But thanks to Australian PM's "political vote of no confidence", the Zimbabwean regime must have scored some critical points, which a battle on the cricketing field would have never given them.

Rejecting neutral venues for the contest was an effective counterpunch, the absence of which would have legitimised the Australian boycott.

Bangla scribes against Ravi Shastri: Thirtysix years after India helped rescue Bangladesh, an Indian coach promised no mercy because, "we take no prisoners".

In the process, he did hurt the sentiments of a nation, already burdened with a 0-2 deficit. It found echoes in the agitated questions to Dravid at a press conference, and thunderous cries from scribes that "Bangladesh never wanted any mercy from India".

"One could have been forgiven if one thought this was John Buchanan, the coach of the all-conquering Aussies. But, no surprise, it was the manager of the visiting team from India, the recently-concluded World Cup's overrated and over-hyped minnows." That is how an incensed former Bangla cricketer put his anguish in his words.

Zee against BCCI: The Indian Cricket League (ICL) is not meant to be a challenge to BCCI. But as the concept was mooted soon after the World Cup debacle with a nation bent on its knees in mourning, it was widely perceived as a challenge.

With stars like Warne and Lara, and even McGrath expected to grace the 20-20 format, BCCI may find it difficult not to come out strongly against the league. After all, the success of ICL could lead to effective splitting of advertising pie and that will hurt for sure.

Given the background, it will be surprising if ICL is able to rope in any cricketer harbouring the dream of playing for India, or planning a comeback. But the move might force BCCI to become more accountable to the paying public, and allow them at least food, water and clean toilets in the stadia.

Tax department's no to top cricketers: CAG feels it is tax evasion, while cricketers and the agents feel it is simple tax planning. However, in times when they have already been put on the back foot by the World Cup debacle, the news must come as a dampener. As they say, misery comes in torrents.

Whatmore's no to Pak cricket team: Pakistan is an undisciplined side, was Whatmore's excuse.

Probably, fate and money were also on his mind. Perhaps he was afraid of someone's alleged "killer instinct" too.

Earlier, PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf had said that negotiations were on with Whatmore and whenever something is finalised, "it will be made public."

But what probably he had never bargained for, was a Whatmore's rebuff.

Gavaskar's no to Greg Chappell: If Ireland ever beat Australia, that will make Sunil Gavaskar doubly happy for three reasons.

One, Australians were humbled. Second, another minnow proved their class. And third, his prophecy about Greg bringing the downfall of Australia came true.

Gavaskar's strong no-confidence in Greg was expected. So what if it came two years late.

Ganguly's no to competition for breaking news: Is Indian press anti-Ganguly? Did it try to sabotage Ganguly's chances by alleging that he was planning to be in League with Zee?

Ganguly blamed the "competition for breaking news" responsible for spreading lies. He loves team India and felt the press has got to be "responsible" at some stage,

Ganguly's anger was certainly not stage-managed. He certainly gave it as good as he got.

With the tempers shooting up in global cricket, more no-confidence votes can be expected in days to come.

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