Gavaskar to head NCA

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 30. Cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has been appointed the Chairman of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He takes over from Mr. Raj Singh Dungarpur, who sent in his resignation earlier in the day.

This was among the several decisions taken during the second and conclusive day of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) annual general meeting here on Sunday. Brijesh Patel stays as the NCA Director. Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, President, BCCI, in consultation with Gavaskar and Patel, will form a committee for the functioning of the NCA.

There is a change in the National senior selection panel as well with Shivlal Yadav taking the place of T.A. Sekar as the South Zone representative. Chandu Borde will continue as the chairman of the committee.

And the BCCI has accepted in principle, the proposal of `Gradation Payment' to the National cricketers, although certain ``specific details'', after being reviewed by the Working Committee, would be placed before a Special General meeting for approval.

John Wright and Andrew Leipus continue as the coach and physical trainer of the Indian team, while Col. A.D. Sharma has been appointed the manager of the National side for the triangular series in Bangladesh during January 2002 (Pakistan is the other side).

A decision has been taken to recognise the three newly formed States of Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhatisgarh before March next year. Meanwhile, the Board will constitute a committee to conduct of domestic cricket in Bihar and Jharkhand during the 2001-2002 season.

The Board also moved to remove the suspension on the Goa Cricket Association (GCA). However, the show cause served earlier on the GCA has not been withdrawn and the inquiry into the ticket scam will proceed.

Later, addressing a press conference, Mr. Dalmiya said Indian cricket was going through a period of crisis and that that had been reflected in the performance of the National team. ``We now have a foreign coach and a foreign fitness trainer, but the results have not improved. We are sliding down. Something is wrong somewhere, maybe with the administrators, maybe with the players. Everybody is accountable. We have to go to the root of the cause.''

The BCCI president was particularly concerned at the spate of injuries in the Indian team. ``We had seven of our frontline players on the injured list. This has not happened before. Prevention of injuries is better than cure.''

He pointed out that when the country played more international cricket a couple of years back, there were not more than a couple of injuries. ``What has happened now is unprecedented. Damage control is required.''

Mr. Dalmiya was pained at the fact that India was now eighth in the rankings. ``In the last 50 years, we have not gone through the kind of crisis we are passing through now.''

He said the priority before the Board was the under-19 World Cup later in the year, and the World Cup in 2003. ``We have to prepare in the best possible manner.''

Mr. Dalmiya revealed the new format for the Ranji Trophy would be in place next year. ``There has to be an improvement in the supply lines,'' he noted and added the emphasis would be on `A' tours.

Touching on corruption in cricket, the Board chief made it clear that the ban of players believed to be involved in the match- fixing scandal would stay. ``This is the most heinous crime against one's country. There is no question of any relaxation on the ban,'' he thundered. On the issue of charges against him, Mr. Dalmiya replied there was nothing adverse about him in the CBI report.

Still on the subject, Mr. Dalmiya said it was his personal view that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the BCCI should join hands while fighting the cases filed by certain cricketers challenging the ban. ``The action was taken on the basis of the CBI report. The CBI has all the evidence.''

When it was brought to his attention that certain off- shore venues had come under scrutiny for breeding cricket corruption, he answered, ``Three venues have been named. Cricket can still be played in other centres. I am a great supporter of globalisation of the game.''

On resuming cricketing ties with Pakistan, he said the Board would abide by the Government ruling. ``We have always maintained that.''

Asked whether Gavaskar could devote enough time at the NCA given his busy schedule, Mr. Dalmiya said he had spoken to the batting maestro in this regard, and added that Gavaskar would be able to guide the youngsters despite his commitments in the media.

``I have held the highest post in the International Cricket Council,'' he said, but reiterated it was a ``great honour'' to take over as the BCCI president. ``It is an enormous responsibility,'' he confessed.

Soon after the conclusion of the press conference came the news of Mr. Madhav Rao Scindia's death. Mr. Scindia held the office of the BCCI president during the 90s.

Mr. Dalmiya, who had worked with him as the BCCI secretary, was too shocked by the news to react.

BCCI panels for the Year 2001-2002:

Working committee: President - Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya; Secretary - Mr. Niranjan Shah; Joint Secretary - Mr. Jyoti Bajpai; Treasurer - Mr. Kishore Rungta; Vice- Presidents: Messrs. C.K. Khanna, K.M. Ramprasad, Narahari Amin, Kamal Morarka, and Dr. P.K. Misra. The following State Associations will nominate their members in the committee: Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Services, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Cricket Club of India, Vidarbha, Railways, Punjab & Karnataka.

Senior selection committee: Messrs. C.G. Borde (chairman, West Zone), S. Madanlal (North), Shivlal Yadav (South), Ashok Malhotra (East) and Sanjay Jagdale (Central). Convenor: Mr. Niranjan Shah.

Junior selection committee: Messrs. V. Chamundeshwarnath (chairman, South), Anurag Thakur (North), Kamal Das (East), Bhagirath Thakore (West), and Ashok Bhagwat (Central). Convenor: Mr. Jyoti Bajpai.

Technical committee: Messrs. Sunil Gavaskar (chairman), Ashok Singh (North), Dayanand Narvekar (South), Pradeep Chauhan (East), Mayank Khandwala (West), Rajiv Shukla (Central), and C.G. Borde (chairman, sr. selection panel). Convenor: Mr. Niranjan Shah. Tour, Programme & Fixtures committee: Messrs. Kamal Morarka (chairman), Col. A.D. Sharma (North), N. Venkat Rao (South), Samiran Chakrabarty (East), and A.N. Mate (West), Ashok Kumat (Central). Convenor: Mr. Niranjan Shah.

Senior tournaments committee: Mr. Narahari Amin (chairman). The following associations will nominate their members: Punjab (North), Kerala (South), Tripura (East), Gujarat (West), and Madhya Pradesh (Central). Convenor: Mr. Niranjan Shah.

Junior cricket committee: Messrs. K.M. Ramprasad (chairman), M.P. Pandove (North), A. Salim (South), Chitrak Mitra (East), Rakesh Parekh (West), and Ashok Ohri (Central). Convenor: Mr. Jyoti Bajpai.

Umpires' committee: Messrs. C.K. Khanna (chairman), R.R. Rohi (North), M. Ranga Reddy (South), Goutam Dasgupta (East), R.S. Shetty (West), and M.N. Dorairajan (Central). Convenor: Mr. Jyoti Bajpai.

Vizzy Trophy committee: Dr. P.K. Misra (chairman), Prof. K.B. Powar (All India Univ.), Prof. A.M. Pathan (All India Univ.), Messrs. V. Jagannath (BCCI), Rakesh Agarwal (BCCI), Jyoti Bajpai (joint convenor, BCCI), and Gurdeep Singh (joint convenor, AIU).

Finance committee: Messrs. S.K. Nair (chairman), Ranbir Singh Mahendra (North), S.K. Ramadhyam (South), K.P. Kajaria (East), R.M. Sawant (West), and N.R. Choudhary (Central). Convenor: Mr. Kishore Rungta.

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