It is easy to forget that Raj Singh Dungarpur has played cricket for 16years. That’s not because his Test record is far from illustrious. It’s justthat, to most, he is the quintessential administrator – always in a powerfuloffice, always in the news, and frequently in controversy. In the last electionsto the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), he threw his lot behindSharad Pawar, who was defeated by Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who was backed byDungarpur’s long time associate and rival, Jagmohan Dalmiya. However, not forDungapur the clichés about taking letting sleeping dogs lie or taking defeat inone’s stride. In a chat during the first India-Pakistan Test in Mohali, hebowled a flurry of bouncers and beamers that Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, first referredto here as "one man", would struggle to fend off.
Advertisement
Q. How do you assess the working of the BCCI?
A. The working of the board these days is very sad. It used to be thebest run sports organisation in the country. That has gone out of the window.All because one man does not want to loosen his grip. He wants to do everything,interfere in everything from cricket to television channels to who is selectedto play to who keeps the score.
Q. You have had a long association with Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya…
A. I have nothing against Mr Dalmiya. He supported me when I was thepresident of BCCI. But I fell out with him when he toppled Dr Muthiah (A.C.Muthiah, former BCCI president and Chennai-based industrialist) when he hadcompleted just two years as the BCCI president. Mr Dalmiya had given me apromise that he will let Dr Muthiah complete his term of three years. I am givento understand that an event management company played a role in Dr Muthiah’souster and the company was given an assignment (by the board) immediatelyafterwards.
Advertisement
Q. Where do you come into the picture?
A. Dr Muthiah was a very good president. He wanted to do several goodthings. For instance, he wanted to set up a corporate governance committee.Besides, Mr Dalmiya is supposed to have said behind my back that he was notgetting rid of Dr Muthiah but of this evil influence that was Raj SinghDungarpur, because Dr Muthiah consulted me on every issue. The truth is that DrMuthiah consulted me only on matters related to cricket. I wouldn’t dream ofadvising him on something like, say, finance, or other matters. Still, Isupported Mr Dalmiya when he wanted to be the chief patron of BCCI. But theproblem is that he wants to do everything. He does not want to let go.
Q. You have yourself been the president of the Cricket Club of India (CCI)since 1992…
A. CCI is a company and there is no fixed tenure for its president. Onthe other hand, the BCCI president has a fixed tenure of three years. But I havebeen wondering how long I can go on. Just because I go unopposed every time doesnot give me the licence to continue forever.
Q. What would you like to change about the working of the BCCI?
A. The board, for the last five years, has been vote-oriented, notcricket oriented. How can a cricket board in 2005 not have a CEO? Even Zimbabweand Bangladesh have one. We must have a CEO. How can someone like me, forinstance, be expected to take decisions related to finance, or law? But, thebottom line is that a CEO does not generate votes. Then, people who have neverheld a cricket bat in their lives, are occupying key positions with the board.
Advertisement
Q. Would you prefer more cricketers in administration?
A. No, I’m not one of those. We have had excellent presidents whonever played cricket. Anthony DeMello, N.K.P. Salve were great presidents. MrSalve, for instance, wanted to unify the board after he was elected presidentand not count who had voted for him and who against.
Q. How about the television rights and the notional losses?
A. Immense. The board has suffered a big financial loss because of theway it has handled the television rights. Now, that money belongs to the stateassociations, not to the board. But such is the awe of the man that no one israising these questions.
Advertisement
Q. Why should anyone be afraid of Mr Dalmiya?
A. He is a very vindictive man. If you (a state association) supporthim (with votes), you will get subsidies for stadiums and lights, and you willget to host matches. If you don’t, your funds allocations get cancelled. Lookat this India-Pakistan series. The matches, by and large, have gone to venueswhose state associations had voted for Mr Dalmiya. Except Mohali, about whichnot much could be done. That is how the opening match of the tour went toDharamsala, because the Himachal Pradesh association had supported Mr Dalmiya.
Q. Does Mr Dalmiya still control the board, even though the president isMr Ranbir Singh Mahendra?
Advertisement
A. No, I don’t think so. I have known Ranbir for a long time. Helikes to discuss the issues at the working committee. I am looking forward to aclean board. I hope Ranbir will bring a breath of fresh air. And whenever MrPawar comes back, winds of change will come and restore BCCI to its past glory.
