Dalmiya paints a rosy picture

NEW DELHI, OCT. 4. The newly-elected Board president, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, painted a rosy picture of the state of Indian cricket and promised to effect a few changes in the interest of the players and ``all cricket lovers'' of the country.

A veteran cricket administrator, Mr. Dalmiya stressed the need to be ``accountable'' in all areas of the game and said none would be spared if guilty. ``The responsibility begins with the president of the Board,'' he emphasised.

He began by informing that he would insist on the National selectors following a certain policy when picking the side. ``It won't mean we would interefere with selection matters but a certain policy will have to be formulated,'' he said.

When asked why the National junior selection committee comprised non-Test players and one of them had played just one Ranji Trophy match, Mr. Dalmiya came up with an inconvincing reply that the committees were formed according to the Board rules. ``It's (the appointments) all part of the BCCI rules but we may consider this matter in the future,'' he said.

Commenting on the state of Indian cricket, Mr. Dalmiya said ``it's very fine. Some fine tuning has to be done but everything is fine.'' He did not elaborate what he meant by fine- tuning.

The Board President agreed that immediate attention had to be paid to the preparation of pitches for domestic cricket. ``It'll be a top priority,'' he assured.

In a move aimed at inculcating a sense of competition among the players, Mr. Dalmiya said ``we'll revive the concept of `A' teams. The players will be sent on extensive overseas tours so that we raise a good second line of defence.''

Mr. Dalmiya said the recommendations of the technical committee for the conduct of domestic cricket would come into implementation next season - three teams qualifying from each zone for the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy. ``We have Sunil Gavaskar as chairman of the technical committee,'' Mr. Dalmiya informed. When asked how could the same committee include a mediaman, Mr. Dalmiya shrugged ``you'll have to ask the people who formed these committees.''

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Section  : Sport
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