BCCI secretary Thakur says commentary box is no place for independent voices

It’s official. The cricket commentary box is no place for free-speaking peoples, at least in India.

In an interview with the Indian Express, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur was clear about how the board sees the role of the commentator.

“On the cricket field and in the commentary box, your job is to speak about cricket and the game but not about BCCI and 10 other things,” Thakur said.

To be fair, Thakur doesn’t disapprove of independent voices as a matter of principle. Just that there is no room for such voices in the commentator’s box, especially when the BCCI is paying their salary.

Why does the BCCI pay their salaries? Well, that comes down to market forces, claims Thakur.

“The issue is how do you provide quality content?” he said. “For example, if Ravi (Shastri) and Sunil (Gavaskar) or others get better deals outside India, why will they look at Indian cricket? But for Indian fans, they would love to listen to the likes of Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.”

His explanation leaves out the broadcaster – in this case Star Sports – who would normally be paying the commentators. One assumes that a company like Star, which has deep pockets, would be willing to pay market rate for Gavaskar, Shastri and Kapil, if they were in such demand around the world. That the BCCI still feels the need to contract commentators directly suggests that exerting control over who says what on television is the relevant factor, not the free market.

The BCCI has been involved in number of controversial decisions in recent times, from choosing to boycott the Decision Review System to the “Big Three’s” takeover of the ICC. Keeping a lid on criticism when umpire’s decisions on the field would have been reversed had there been DRS would be in the BCCI’s interests.

Thakur was also asked about the misuse of funds by various state associations. For example, The Delhi & District Cricket Association was investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Organisation (SFIO), which found 23 instances of misappropriation of funds, non-payment of taxes, not following the tendering route, hiring of tainted auditors and irregularities concerning management of membership, ticketing and so on.

However, Thakur artfully dodged the question and used it as an opportunity to praise the state associations.

“Even in the government set-up, the central government sends money for central sponsored schemes or funds to the states. Many states do well, others don’t. So same is here. But you have to appreciate that we have more than 22 international stadiums which no other country has. Each state association has their own academy and they are not dependent on the BCCI zonal academy. So that is why I wanted to have NCA as the Centre of Excellence.”

You can read the full Indian Express interview here .