Brace up for ‘breaking news’, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf tells cricket fans

India-Pak Test series could be a reality soon, he says on his maiden Indian visit

EXCLUSIVE

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

After a one-hour meeting with his Indian counterpart on Sunday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has this to say to the subcontinent cricket fans: brace up for some “breaking news” on the bilateral series between the neighbouring countries.

Ashraf, in Chennai to watch the IPL final on a ‘rare’ BCCI invitation, said he was happy with his first meeting with BCCI president N Srinivasan, whom he called his ‘elder brother’, and said that both Boards made “a lot of pledges” on resumption of the bilateral Test series that were disbanded over four-and-a-half years ago following the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

“It was a courtesy call by Mr Srinivasan as I’m his guest. It was a one-to-one meeting. We discussed many things in brief. There were a lot of pledges [made] from both sides, [he said] that we’re planning something better; he didn’t tell me what it was. But he said that in one or two months some concrete and positive things would come out,” Ashraf told Mail Today minutes after his meeting with the BCCI president.

“I feel that if what he says and what he plans is implemented the bilateral series will really be revived. I am quite hopeful,” he said. “My feeling is that the thinking is changing [between the two countries]; the ice is melting. I think there could be breaking news in, maybe, one or two months.” 

Continuing his positive vibes, Ashraf, 59, called himself the younger brother of Srinivasan, 67. “One is the big brother, the other is younger; and we want both of us to work together for the betterment of the two nations,” he emphasised. “I’m referring to India as the big brother because it’s the bigger country. And the head of its Board will obviously be the big brother. He is elder to me in age and also lives in the larger country. Obviously, he has heavier responsibilities, and I convey all the good wishes to him.”

The two countries have not played a Test series since 2007 when Pakistan toured India, as a fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. They have, however, been playing in multi-nation one-day series at neutral venues.

“We feel that if India is reluctant to play in Pakistan, maybe we can have a ‘joint’ series in India and can share the revenue. We don’t know if the BCCI would agree to it. We can play the series in India for a year or so, before they can be confident that they can go to Pakistan and play on Pakistan’s home grounds. I wish to convey this tomorrow when we’ll meet [again] in a one-to-one meeting,” Ashraf disclosed.

BCCI inviting Ashraf seem a huge positive step considering that only last month the Srinivasan-headed Board had outrightly rejected PCB’s proposal to play its ‘home’ series (against other nations) in India, as teams have refused to tour Pakistan after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Within a month of snubbing the PCB, the situation seems to have changed so dramatically that the BCCI, in a first move of its kind, invited Pakistan’s national T20 champions Sialkot Stallions for the Champions League T20 to be held in India in October and then Ashraf to watch the IPL final.

“I want our relations to become so good that if we [PCB] have to choose a neutral venue for Pakistan’s home series, India should suit us the best. I wish we become so close that we do not differentiate between India and Pakistan,” Ashraf said.

The PCB president put the onus on the BCCI to take a decision. “The ball is in their court. We’re always looking forward to bring the cricketing relations back on track since they were derailed in 2007,” he said while pointing out that the security scenario in Pakistan has improved since 2009.

On his talks with Srinivasan, held over tea and coffee, Ashraf said: “The talks were on both sides [whether the series could be held in India or in Pakistan]. But it has to be worked out whether we come here first or they’ll come to us, what’ll be the venues, so many things they have to decide.”

Ashraf said that he has been told that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has played a positive role in pushing for resumption of the bilateral series.

“The Pakistani government is already supporting developing better relations with India, be on diplomatic front or on judicial front or on the cricket front, because the President of Pakistan [Asif Zardari], who is also PCB patron, on his last visit to India [last month], had a very good conversation with Mr Manmohan Singh in Delhi,” he said.

“At that meeting, he emphasised the importance of the resumption of the cricket ties and Mr Manmohan Singh very nicely and in a very candid way agreed to it, and said that he’d immediately convey this to his [cricket] Board for the resumption of the cricket series. What I’ve heard is that the Indian PM has taken keen interest for the revival of cricket between the two great nations.” 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

Inside story of how STAR India won BCCI’s media rights bid

EXCLUSIVE

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

STAR India Pvt Ltd used its money very smartly, and exactly when and where it was required, to win the prestigious BCCI media rights for six years, from 2012 to 2018 (click on graphics below to enlarge).


 STAR’s smartest move came when it outbid Multi Screen Media (MSM), Singapore, by a mile in the second rights period (2014-2018) compared to the first one (2012-14), in which the winning company offered only “slightly more” than the previous rights holder, Nimbus. 

The Rupert Murdoch-owned STAR bid Rs 3,851.82 crore overall while MSM quoted Rs 3,700.032, losing the race by a huge difference of Rs 151.788 crore. The overall reserve price for the six-year period was Rs 3,216.75 crore.

STAR will get to telecast a total of 96 matches – Tests, One-day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals – during the six-year period. The winner was chosen on the basis of the combined bids for the two periods – comprising a two-year and a four-year period. 

BCCI smartly split the media rights bid into three segments — TV, internet, and mobile — and bundled the six-year period to maximise income. The strategy worked well as the Board will now earn Rs 7.61 crore more per international match, compared to Rs 32.50 crore that Nimbus was paying. 

BCCI usually allots four-year media rights deal. But in this case the first period was only of two years because that was the time left in Nimbus’s four-year contract that was terminated midway, in December, for regularly defaulting on payments, according to the Board.

Five parties – STAR India, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd., MSM, Zee Entertainment, and Times Internet Ltd. – bought the bid document, which cost each one Rs 5 lakh, but eventually only STAR and MSM bid.

For the first rights period, STAR bid just Rs 27 lakh more (Rs 871.02 crore) than the BCCI’s reserve price of Rs 870.75 crore, as per BCCI records. In comparison, MSM bid Rs 169.884 crore more, probably thinking that its rivals would bid more on the two-year period. 

An interesting part of STAR’s bidding for the first period was that it quoted exactly the same amount as the base price for internet (Rs 50 lakh) and mobile (Rs 50 lakh) and a mere Rs 1 lakh more for TV (Rs 31.25 crore). MSM quoted much more than STAR, but fell short of its rival’s bid where it mattered – the second rights period. 

In the four-year period too, STAR played the numbers smartly and bid exactly the same as the reserve price for mobile while MSM quoted more. However, STAR won the race by bidding more money than its rivals.

Each bidder placed its bids in two separate envelopes. “The first envelope contained the documents that fulfilled the eligibility criteria that was required by the ITT (invitation to tender) while the second one contained the financial bid,” an official who attended the marketing committee meeting last month told Mail Today. 

“A BCCI team comprising M/s Amarchand & Mangaldas and legal counsels opened the first envelope to evaluate the eligibility criteria before a special technical team checked the bids for internet and mobile rights,” he said. 

“There was a break in the meeting to enable BCCI’s legal team study the bidders’ qualification. Once the house was satisfied that the two had fulfilled the eligibility criteria, the financial bids were then opened and the legal team tabulated their figures. Also, both bidders submitted a ‘performance deposit’ of Rs 30 crore, as mentioned in the ITT.” 

After the two envelops were opened, the bidders were asked to go out to enable the BCCI members discuss the two bids and take a decision on the winner. “All of us then unanimously approved STAR’s bid and the company was formally awarded the media rights. The bidders were again called inside the meeting room and were told about it,” said the official. 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today on May 21, 2012)

A tribal hockey tournament with a difference

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi 

A classic case of hockey getting a royal ignore was witnessed in Delhi last week. While the masses were busy watching IPL matches, a unique hockey tournament between tribal teams based in and around Delhi. As many as 38 men’s teams and a few women’s teams competed with Ekta Club winning the men’s title. 

There is a proper organisation, comprising about 38 teams and 500-odd tribal players, in the Delhi-NCR, with Sushil Lakra, a Grade A hockey umpire and an ex-player, who founded it along with retired assistant commissioner of police Emil Lakra in late 1970s. 

“We organise two annual tournaments and, importantly, we are self-financed. Each team contributes Rs 2,000 for the league and Rs 500 for the knockout tournament,” Sushil told Mail Today. According to a rough estimate, about 1.5 lakh tribals live in Delih-NCR. 

So, little wonder that when Dilip Tirkey, a former captain and one of best ever tribal hockey players, recently took oath as a Rajya Sabha member, he pulled strings to get additional passes for his childhood friends to witness to be present at the ceremony. “Some of his friends were meeting after 22 years,” said someone close to Tirkey

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

No point in crying over broken IPL & Champions LeagueT20 crockery

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

This crockery was exported to South Africa for the IPL & Champions League T20 tournaments in 2009. On its return to India, the BCCI wanted to sell it to its affiliated associations at a 50% discount, but found no takers. Eventually, the BCCI distributed it free of cost, but most of it was found broken by the associations as it was loosely packed. PHOTO COPYRIGHT: QAISER MOHAMMAD ALI

SOMETIME ago the BCCI told its affiliated units that they could purchase IPL and Champions League T20 crockery languishing unused at its headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. To entice them further into purchasing the huge pile of tableware the Board offered a flat 50 per cent discount for its 30 associations.

The real reason for the BCCI’s ‘magnanimity’ was that it wanted to clean one of the floors of the ‘Cricket Centre’ of the crockery and other stuff so that its proposed museum could be setup. This is the same crockery that was sent to South Africa in 2009 for the IPL and Champions League T20, and returned to India after the tournaments.

However, even the huge discount failed to elicit much interest amongst the affiliated units. With no other option left, the BCCI voluntarily sent the crockery to all its units recently, with each association receiving 50 pieces each of the six different items packed in 28 boxes. But the largesse was not done in a proper manner and instead the Board is now receiving letters from the associations complaining about the broken crockery. 

“The associations have written to us saying that a majority of the crockery pieces was found to be broken as the boxes, they say, were loosely packed,” a Board functionary told Mail Today. With no chance of replacement of the broken Bone China, the issue ends there – with a whimper. 

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

Stop throwing no-balls at most loved Indian, Sachin Tendulkar

Those opposing maestro’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha have no ground to stand on

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

PRESIDENT Pratibha Patil’s nomination of Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha is an extremely heartening decision. It should be welcomed by one and all — the government and the Opposition, the fans of the batting maestro as well as cricket haters, and sports lovers as well as those who don’t play ball.

If Sachin’s nomination is to be seen through a political lens, it was a masterful straight drive by the government that gave the bowler (read the Opposition) and the fielders (read red- faced critics) absolutely no chance of stopping the ball from crossing the boundary.

Those who are opposing or objecting to Tendulkar’s nomination are actually insulting India’s most loved and admired athlete ever. Before anyone interprets and twists this in any way, let me clarify that colossi like Dhyan Chand, Milkha Singh, Michael Ferreira, Geet Sethi, Viswanathan Anand, PT Usha, Leander Paes, Pankaj Advani and a few more are in the same bracket, or were even better.

Those who are still alive might get a Rajya Sabha nomination in the future and it’ll be well deserved as well.

Almost all the opinions expressed against Tendulkar’s nomination so far have been political, and it is clear that this is a case of sour grapes, especially for the Opposition. Even a few members of the political Opposition, like former India cricketer Kirti Azad of the Bharatiya Janata Party, have welcomed Sachin to Parliament, though even he questioned the “timing” of the nomination.

WHILE the government and the Opposition were almost united in supporting Tendulkar’s name for the Bharat Ratna only recently, it was strange to see the latter see red over the Congress- led government’s decision to recommend the former India captain for one of the 12 nominated Rajya Sabha seats.

Left speechless, the embarrassed Opposition is now speculating on how many days Tendulkar would be able to devote to Parliament. That is, however, not the business of the Opposition or of those who feel that they had a chance to be nominated instead.

What a Bal Thackeray or a Subhash Kashyap, a former secretary general of Lok Sabha, feel is neither important nor is it going to change the beautiful picture that Tendulkar has diligently been painting globally with his bat for over 20 years. Thackeray’s opinion, as usual, is heavily prejudiced, and doesn’t deserve a reaction.

Remember, Tendulkar a few months ago had given a fitting reply to Thackeray on the issue of nationalism. The master’s reply stunned all into a deafening silence.

And it was disappointing to see Kashyap assert that sport was not a category provided by the Constitution under which nominations to the Rajya Sabha could be made.

Is he implying that the President was not aware of the Constitutional provisions, or that she erred by appointing Sachin? I ask this: Does a person of Tendulkar’s eminence need a category to be nominated under? And doesn’t someone who is widely considered good enough for the Bharat Ratna deserve to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha?

What I am eagerly waiting to see is the reaction/ behaviour of the Parliamentarians opposed to Tendulkar’s nomination when they come face to face with him in the Upper House. Some of them are also part of the Board for the Control of Cricket in India and usually try desperately to be seen and clicked in the maestro’s company. Let them shun Sachin or not speak to him in our outside Parliament. Is it possible? Well...

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)

SAI has still not decided on new dates for tests to hire budding coaches

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Delhi

THE supposed openings for coaches in the Sports Authority of India (SAI) continues to be a mirage for those who applied for the rare job opportunities, and it has been more than two months after the apex sports body abruptly postponed the interviews in February and didn’t even assign any reason for its heartless act.

The latest status of the recruitment is: The SAI/sports ministry has not decided on the dates for the tests/interviews. The decision to postpone to the tests led to a huge disappointment, disenchantment and anger among the aspiring young coaches, as some of them came to know about it only on reaching Delhi while others were informed midway through their train journey to the national Capital.

SAI says the process to “remove subjectivity” and “introduce more objectivity” to the selection process is taking time, and that’s why the delay in announcement of the fresh dates.

“We’ve not decided as yet on the new dates. The selection procedure is being decided. New dates will be announced in newspapers,” SAI secretary Gopal Krishna told Mail Today. “Talks are on with a government agency to conduct the tests.”

Sources in the sports ministry say that the Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), a public sector enterprise that works under the HRD ministry, is most likely to conduct the tests. “The idea is to make the exams more competitive, so that coaches are hired only on merit,” said one.

Quite inexplicably, it has also not been decided whether those who applied for the tests would automatically take the tests. If those who went through the rigmarole in February are made to re-apply, it will be another torture for the young coaches.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi)

Serious breach of IPL accreditation process, unauthorised card withdrawn

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

A serious breach of the strict Indian Premier League (IPL) accreditation process has occurred for matches at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

In the eye of the storm are a few senior DDCA officials and an International Management Group (IMG) official who allegedly overlooked the established practice to make an authorised accreditation card for the son of a former Delhi chief minister for all eight matches of Delhi Daredevils.

Now, Delhi and District Cricket Association, wary of a backlash from the IPL/BCCI, is trying to find out how many more such unauthorised accreditation cards had been made.

The issue has become big also because the DDCA has failed to deliver the usual accreditation cards to sports minister Ajay Maken and some key officials of his ministry. Their cards were allegedly stopped or delayed by Suresh Chopra, chairman of the DDCA’s IPL organising committee, as the accreditation forms were incomplete.

DDCA treasurer Narinder Batra, however, insisted that he himself filled the forms on behalf of Maken and the other officials and that they were complete in all respects.

When contacted DDCA secretary general SP Bansal said there was no delay in getting the cards ready, even as he emphasised that he had not been involved at all in the accreditation process. “The cards were made well before the first IPL match [on April 10], but they couldn’t be delivered for some reason,” he said.

Chopra, also a DDCA vice-president, said that he received incomplete forms. “I got eight or nine forms for accreditation for the sports minister and some officials. They were blank; they had no photos, no email IDs etc. I asked Mr Bansal and he sent the relevant information about them by email and we got the cards ready the next day, on April 5,” Chopra told Mail Today.

“No accreditation card is made without the ID proof. Can you imagine the additional director and joint director level home ministry officials themselves filled up their forms? If they can, why can’t others. David Clarke [accreditation in-charge from IMG] is a tough nut. He says his computer system doesn’t accept incomplete forms,” he said.

On the issue of the unauthorised accreditation card of Siddharth, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verna, Chopra said: “Ask Chetan Chauhan about this.” Chauhan, also a vice-president, said: “My only job is to forward the forms. I only forwarded Siddharth’s form. Accepting it or rejecting was their job.” Siddharth was given a duty card as a member of the DDCA reception committee, despite GMR Sports, owner of Delhi Daredevils team, managing all the affairs this year. It was discovered that his form also didn’t have one of the three mandatory signatures of DDCA officials.

Clarifying the issue, Bansal said that Siddharth’s accreditation card has been withdrawn.

Batra, however, contradicted Chopra. “I filled the accreditation forms of Maken, the sports secretary, the director general of the Sports Authority of India and others, wrote their designations and signed them. Do you have to verify their credentials?” he wondered.

“So far their mobile numbers are concerned, these people never disclose them. And what is the requirement of their e-mail IDs? If they were to make accreditation for the prime minister, or Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, will they insist on getting their mobile numbers too?”

When contacted, Clarke declined to comment. “I’ve no comments to make. I appreciate you called, but from the IPL perspective, it’s a confidential matter,” he said.

Batra has been supervising the conduct of IPL matches on DDCA’s behalf in previous years, but not in this tournament. Now he has been sent an SOS to streamline things. “I will be joining after the April 21 match as I’m preoccupied with other things,” he said.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE DEALS THAT WENT SOUR

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

IN 2010, Viacom18, which signed as the IPL entertainment partner for Rs 35 crore, alleged that the BCCI breached the agreement. Viacom paid Rs 21 crore for 2010 only, and the two parties went into arbitration

BCCI was to receive Rs 1.5 cr from merchandise distribution partner Yog Sports Pvt Ltd. for the 2010 IPL. The company didn’t pay, forcing the Board to encash its bank guarantee of Rs 50 lakh. Board admits “uncertainty” involves with the Rs 1 crore left unpaid from the sour deal

BCCI entered into a contract with Bandelier (South Africa) in 2010 for providing license to use as trademarks and designs in high end products such as Swiss watches. BCCI was to receive Rs1.6 cr or 10 per cent of the gross sales of the licensed products in 2010, but got nothing

Board paid Rs5 crore to Visual Impact towards security facilities for the 2010 IPL as per an agreement. Following discussions, Board now says it’s “confident” that it would be able to recover Rs3.5 crore after another deal got messy

According to BCCI’s 2010-11 balance sheet, it received claims, estimated to be worth Rs 3.57 crore, from various vendors, franchises and some other parties (in 2009-10, the corresponding figure was about Rs 155.25 crore)

SPONSORS WANT TO LEAVE IPL, AT LEAST ONE MOVES A COURT

EXCLUSIVE

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

Downturn blues are impacting the normally recession proof Indian Premier League. Season five is staring at a sponsor pull out. A mirror image of the economic environment and, more importantly, the trough that Indian cricket finds itself in.

All this has left the IPL owner, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in a state of flux. The Board is fighting seemingly unending battles with a host of sponsors, some of whom either want to walk out of their deals or have successfully forced the BCCI to reduce their sponsorship money drastically.

Having saved its skin in the huge battle of attrition with the national team sponsor Sahara India, the BCCI is now grappling with sponsors of the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) to make them stay put.

The unresponsive economic climate has contributed to the hard times for the BCCI, the world’s richest cricket board worth Rs 2,530 crore, is facing.

Karbonn Mobiles, the official mobile phone partner of the IPL, has managed to get its sponsorship fee reduced while the deal with Maxx Moblink, the IPL strategic partner and playoffs partner, has gone sour and has now entered litigation after the BCCI declined the company’s request for termination of the deal.

“Recently, Karbonn requested the BCCI to reduce its sponsorship fee to Rs 28 crore from Rs 30.10 crore for 2011 as they were having some problems. They also asked for the sponsorship fee to be reduced for the 2012 edition too,” a top official BCCI.

“Karbonn, however, agreed to spend the differential amount of Rs10.17 crore in marketing and promotions for the 2012 IPL. The IPL governing council has okayed both requests,” he disclosed.

However, the issue with Maxx Moblink failed to be resolved amicably. “They said that since they are facing a financial crunch, they wanted to terminate the deal as they would not be able to dish out Rs 23.8 crore for 2012 IPL. But the IPL governing council shot down the request and now the issue has gone into litigation,” the official said.

IPL chief operation officer Sundar Raman confirmed told Mail Today: “Maxx Moblink said that they were not doing well and wanted to pull out of the sponsorship deal. How can they walk out of their contractual obligation? So, the matter is now in litigation.”

Market experts say it could be a case clash of interests for Karbonn Mobile and Maxx Moblink, who both make mobile handsets.

“There’s confusion with some of the IPL sponsors. Everyone wants uniqueness for money they put in. But they are not getting that. Some players are endorsing one product in their personal capacity and another for their IPL teams,” Latika Khaneja, director of Collage Sports Management, told Mail Today.

“There’s not much value in the IPL now. In the first year in 2008, it was IPL’s uniqueness, in the second, it was a big hit because the first edition was successful, and from the third edition onwards it has been business as usual. To borrow a market terminology, cricket sentiments are down, overall. Sponsorship is always event-related and sponsors decide on their targets six months in advance.”

Vikram Sakhuja, CEO of GroupM, a media buying agency, concurred with Khaneja. “It’s not as bad as last year, but there’s less money now because people are circumspect. Overall, it’s a little down,” Sakhuja told Mail Today.

The CEO of an IPL franchise too admitted that markets were not responding well to the IPL. He summed up thus: “There’s uncertainty; markets are down; there’s too much cricket; and the Indian team is also not performing well. All this has contributed to sponsors being less enthusiastic.”

Kings XI Punjab COO Arvinder Singh said that the Indian team’s continued poor performance has affected the sponsorship scene. “Overall, the national team’s results have had an effect on sponsorships. The Indian team is the core of any sponsor,” he said.

(THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN MAIL TODAY)

Ticket revenue from Delhi-Pune IPL match at Kotla could have broken all records

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

The GMR-owned Delhi Daredevils are firing on all cylinders – on and off the field. Not only the Virender Sehwag-led team has begun well in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the revenue from the gates is also amongst the all-time best.

Saturday’s Daredevils-Pune Warriors India match at the Ferozeshah Kotla reportedly either broke the all-time IPL revenue records or came close to doing it with a collection of close to Rs 5 crore from the paying spectators.

“We sold close to 90 per cent of the tickets of the total capacity of the stadium, which is 42,931. This figure of 90 includes both the sold and complimentary tickets,” Phaneendra P, general manager (marketing) of team owners GMR Sports, told Mail Today.

“The crowd may not be the biggest of the IPL history, but in terms of revenue, it was one of the best, but I can’t disclose how much revenue we made,” he said.

However, sources said that the revenue from the gates was probably the best since IPL was launched in 2008.

“A total of 32,182 spectators purchased the tickets to watch the match as recorded by the turnstiles, according the report that was sent to GMR Sports and the DDCA. The total income from the tickets sale for the game was about Rs 4.70 crore,” said a source. “Even if this revenue did not break the overall IPL record, it’s definitely the best income at a Kotla game.”

Now, Friday’s match against the Mumbai Indians, which includes Sachin Tendulkar, is expected to do still better at the gates.

“Delhi fans have lapped up the game, as all the tickets have already been sold out. The crowd response is likely to break even Saturday’s record,” said the source. “Although it’ll be house full on Saturday, tickets would always be available in the black market. Tickets of Rs100 denomination sold for up to Rs1,500 for the Pune match, and it’s likely to be in a greater demand on Friday.”

On Saturday, fans showed unprecedented enthusiasm. Their excitement to get inside the ground quickly and grab a seat proved too hot for the turnstiles and those at the Gate No. 17 and 18 failed to bear the sudden load and broke down. The turnstile at Gate 1, from which the teams’ buses and ambulances enter and exit, also partially malfunctioned.

“Of course, the DDCA is not to be blamed at all for the turnstiles breaking down. There was such a big and sudden rush at the various gates that the machines just couldn’t bear the load,” said the source. “They will be repaired before Friday’s match.”

There are two reasons for the excellent crowd response for Daredevils’ next match: the team, after finishing ninth and last year, has begun exceedingly well in this tournament, and then Tendulkar would be part of the visiting team.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi)

Half a billion dollars of illegal bets on India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dhaka, says Mani

(Exclusive interview)

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Dhaka

DHAKA: A day after an exhilarating Asia Cup encounter, in which India thrashed Pakistan when a win looked quite improbable at one stage, former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani said on Monday (March 19) here that he has gathered that illegal bets worth about half a billion dollars were placed on the day-night game.

“The amount of illegal betting that takes place is huge. The India-Pakistan match that took place yesterday, I believe, would have attracted bets of about half a billion dollars. It’s a huge amount of money. So, when you look at the amount of money involved and the temptation for people to affect the outcome of a match, or affect the performance of individual players, it’s huge,” Mani, here as a guest of the Asian Cricket Council,” told Mail Today in an exclusive interview.

Mani, who was ICC president from 2003 to 2006, said that India is the hub of the unauthorised betting world and suggested that the Indian and other national governments should make betting legal to check corruption in cricket.

“Unless the betting industry is brought under control in India, you can’t stop match-fixing. There’s no doubt that India, certainly Delhi and Mumbai, is the epicentre of cricket betting. Since betting there doesn’t exist officially – it’s done in grey market areas – I’m a strong advocate of legalising betting in India, and bringing it under control of regulatory authorities so that the booking odds, the conduct of bookies, can be monitored properly,” he said. “And from that you’ll find that the risk of corrupting players around the world will reduce significantly.”

The London-based Mani said that the ICC, headed by Indian Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, and the BCCI should impress upon the government to make betting legal.

“For his to happen, both the ICC and the BCCI have a responsibility to collectively talk to the government of India. This is nothing to be confrontational about; this is reality, that betting takes place in India,” he said. “It’s a matter of how you control it because there’s no way, I believe, that it can be stamped out in India. So, if can’t be stamped out, how do they control it in a way that it can stop corrupting the game, destroy it.”

Mani said that legal betting firms inform the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) if they suspect anything fishy. “Countries like England already do it. Cricketing odds are monitored by the ACSU because they all are on record. And every bet is monitored and anything unusual is immediately picked up,” he pointed out. “If bookmakers like, say Bookfair, come across any unusual bets they’ll notify the ACSU. And I’d say it’s not only India that betting is not regulated; it happens in Pakistan and in the Middle East. It’s important that these countries have a mechanism by which they can regulate this industry and monitor the bets.”

A chartered accountant by profession, Mani charged that lucrative twenty20 tournaments like the IPL and Big Bash in Australia have emboldened illegal bookies who have easy access to players during these events.

 “Obviously, high profile matches like the IPL and Big Bash leaves a lot of scope for players to be corrupted; whether they are being corrupted or not, I can’t say. But I can tell you that the ACSU had concerns about the first two editions of the IPL,” he said referring to the first edition in 2008 held in India and next one in South Africa.

“After that the ICC insisted on monitoring and getting involved in the control of matches and bringing in the best conduct. For example, access to the players was controlled and sensitive areas and so on. I think IPL must have added hugely to the cricket betting industry in India.”

The Rawalpindi-born Mani felt that the ICC should convince the Indian government to make betting legal to cleanse the game. “ICC should certainly take a very firm view on it. It has always stated that it has a zero tolerance o betting, and so have all the cricket boards. So, if that’s the case then they should put the money where the mouth is, and engage with the Indian and the other governments,” he said.

“They should’ve a serious discussion with them on either stopping the illegal betting industry, which I think is not possible, or the alternative is, with full responsibility of the emerging countries where betting takes place, to take the leadership role and say ‘okay, how we are going to now regulate betting’. That has to be driven by the ICC; it has to take the lead. I’m not seeing that lead being taken at the moment.”

Mani is also concerned with increasing number of players preferring to play in lucrative twenty20 tournaments like the IPL and Big Bash ignoring their countries.

“What has gone wrong I think is that when the IPL, which has been the most significant development and probably on the whole a good thing for cricket, was being put together -- and even now it should be done – that a pool of money should have been be set aside -- I would say four or five per cent of the gross turnover,” he said. “It should be mandatory for every cricketer who is selected by his board to represent his country must play. If he’s earning less from his country than what the IPL would pay him then the differential should be made from this pool.”

(This story first appeared in Mail Today newspaper in New Delhi on March 20, 2012)

https://twitter.com/#!/cricket_first

Explosive India-Pakistan Asia Cup match today

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Dhaka

Dhaka (At the ringside): A potentially explosive India-Pakistan match is in the offing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here in Dhaka. The action begins in the afternoon at 1400 local time (0800 GMT). So, watch out this and follow the match on https://twitter.com/#!/cricket_first

For the passionate local Bangladeshi cricket fans, it can’t get better than this. A day after watching Sachin Tendulkar score his historic and much-toasted 100^th international century and a remarkably astounding Bangladeshi win over India, they would get another opportunity to watch the high-octane action when India and Pakistan clash on Sunday.

The equation for defending champions India is crystal clear: beat Pakistan to hope to qualify for the final, and a win with a bonus point will make their path further easy. The scenario is pregnant with so many possibilities that even a win would not give Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team a ticket to the final. They will anyway have to wait for the result of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka game on Tuesday to see if they stay back for the March 22 title clash or return home before that.

Currently, Pakistan are in the best position with nine points from two matches, but they are still not guaranteed of a place in the final. It is because if India beat them with a bonus point and Bangladesh too mete out exactly the same treatment to Sri Lanka (win five points) on Tuesday, three teams will end up with nine points each. In that case, the net run rate will come into play and the two teams with the better numbers will qualify for the final.

And if India win but fail to earn the bonus point, they would have eight points and if Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka, both India and Bangladesh will finish on the same number of points – eight. In that case, Bangladesh would enter the final as they have beaten India in their one-to-one game.

But if the Mahela Jayawardene-led Sri Lanka, who have lost both matches, beat Bangladesh – and assuming India beat Pakistan -- then India would be through to the final. And if India go down to Pakistan, Mishbah-ul-Haq’s team will enter the final, and if Sri Lanka get the better of Bangladesh, all three teams will have four points each and the net run rate will come into play. It’s complicated.

Indian bowlers failed to deliver against the determined Bangladeshi batsmen, and Dhoni will have to take a hard look at his bowling resources before the big game against Pakistan. He has only 24 hours to put the department in order. But since the team chose not to practice on Saturday, he will have only the drawing board to plan the team strategy.

The Indian batsmen put up a good total of 289 for five wickets, which the bowlers could have been defended despite the batting-friendly conditions. Barring part-timer Suresh Raina, the other six bowlers completely lost their bearings, and the plot. Their line and length left a lot to be desired as the under-rated Bangladeshi batsmen launched an all-out attack to win the battle with four balls to spare.

India cannot afford to take the field with negative thoughts against Pakistan, who got a huge scare against Bangladesh before scraping through and then regrouped quickly to beat Sri Lanka with a bonus point.

Dhoni and his boys would do well to recall their previous clash with Pakistan, in the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali, where they got the better of them on way to winning the title.

Pakistan, on the other hand, would be keen to avenge their defeat in Mohali, but played down the ‘revenge’ factor. They know that their focus should be on winning and sealing their place in the final rather than settling narrow scores.

The last three matches of the tournament have suddenly become hot properties. No wonder that people who may have otherwise ignored the last two league games are now seeking match tickets. It’s a welcome scenario for the game in the region and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which organises the biennial Asia Cup but is struggling to sell the tournament to the cricket boards in the region due to the international schedule getting tighter. For the moment, though, the ACC would be happy that the matches, which were likely to have no takers, would now be meaningful and relevant.

(This article first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi, on March 18, 2012)

It’ll be trial by spin for India & Pakistan

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Dhaka

Dhaka, March 18, 2012: The big India-Pakistan game in the Asia Cup in Dhaka on Sunday would be a “trial by spin” for batsmen and the team that will collectively tackle spin better will win, says former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja.

Referring to the batsmen and spinners-friendly pitch at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricker Stadium, Rameez also said there was no clear favourite team for him as both teams would start on equal footing.

“Pakistan’s recent one-day form has not been great, even though they had a great year. So, you can never count Pakistan out because they’ve got individual brilliance; some of the players are match winners. And the same goes for India. So it’s going to be a very close contest,” Rameez, here as a television commentator, told Mail Today in an interview.

“I think at the end of the day whoever plays spin better will win – considering the pitch and considering the strength of the bowlers. Pakistan clearly will be pinning their hopes on their spinners. And it’ll be a trial by spin. If India can master that trial, I think they can win quite easily in the end. But I expect it to be a 50-50 contest; no clear favourites for me.”

While India need to beat Pakistan, preferably with a bonus point, to stay alive in the tournament, Pakistan only need a simple victory to confirm their berth in the final.

Asked if toss would be important in the day-night game, Rameez said: “I don’t think so. Batting under lights can have its own problems; batting upfront can be a little bit easier. It’s a fast outfield, so I think the totals would be around 300.”

India batsmen, chiefly Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Gautam Gambhir, have performed well in both matches, and so have the Pakistani bowers, especially off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and speedster Umar Gul.

Rameez said that cricket is lucky to have the India-Pakistan rivalry going. “It’s great for the game. The world got a glimpse of an India-Pakistan contest when the semi-final of the World Cup was played in Mohali last year. The entire world came to a standstill. It had enough strength for a bilateral talks to restart at the government level,” he said referring to the prime ministers of both countries who were present at the stadium.

“It’s always fun – there’s a lot of passion also, a bit of needle also because of the political tension, I guess. And there’s a bit of class too; it’s a classy contest. You’ve got legends on both sides. You’ve got great natural cricketers. And it’s good they will be playing here in Dhaka in front of a very passionate Bangladesh crowd which always admires good cricket.”

Rameez acknowledged that the Pakistani team is likely to get more support from the local fans in Dhaka. “Historically, they have been Pakistan-supportive. But because there are legends playing in the Indian side, the crowd will also have their Indian favourite players. I expect the crowds to, maybe, favour Pakistan more than India,” he felt.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today, New Delhi, on March 18, 2012)

TENDULKAR FINALLY GETS HIS 100th INTERNATIONAL 100, AND HIS FIRST AGAINST BANGLADESH

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in Dhaka

(I was privileged to watch from the ringside the batting maestro score his much-anticipated century, against Bangladesh on March 16, 2012)

Dhaka: It took time to come but when Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the Kohinoor of Indian cricket, scored his 100th international century, against Bangladesh in an Asia Cup match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday evening, he killed several birds with one knock.

With his place in the annals of the game reserved, Tendulkar, aged 38 years and 327 days, took one year and four days – or 33 Test and ODI innings -- between his 99th and 100th ton. His previous international century for came on March 12, in an ODI against South Africa in the World Cup in Nagpur. But when he got it, it was more than welcomed as the 26,000-capacity Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium stood up to salute the most decorated cricketer of all time.

At exactly 5.06 pm local time in Dhaka, as the right-handed batsman turned the left-arm spinner Shakib-al-Hasan to square leg and completed the 100th run, Tendulkar climbed the ‘Mount Everest of International Cricket’ – a peak that has never been scaled. It will perhaps never be attained as cricketers’ careers are getting shorter with the increasingly tight international schedule.

Tendulkar showed remarkable control over his emotions; he did not jump or punch the air after reaching milestone. He took his time to remove his helmet and in a perhaps unprecedented gesture he with the handle of his bat pointed to the Indian flag fixed on his helmet. He was probably tried to say that he plays for India.

Bangladeshi players actually ran towards him to congratulate; some of them even held his hand in both their hands in reverence. He looked up to the sky, acknowledged the applause of almost packed house, and shook hands and accepted congratulations from all, including batting partner Suresh Raina.

Probably the elusive century against Bangladesh and the 100th ton were the last two personal milestones that were left for Tendulkar to achieve. He now has 49 hundreds in ODIs and 51 in Test matches. But, perhaps more importantly, he once again silenced his detractors who have been asking him to quit ODI cricket.

Tendulkar completed his 96th ODI half-century (63 balls, 7x4s, 1x6) in the 19th over, with a boundary to extra cover off left-arm spinner Shakibal Hasan. His 50 came after nine innings, the last being against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final in Mohali on March 30 last year. He then completed his hundred off 138 balls (10x4s, 1x6). Speedster Mashrafe Mortaza finally had Tendulkar caught by captain-wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 114 (147 balls, 12x4s, 1x6) as he attempted to drive.

Numbers reveal something, not everything. But Tendulkar’s stats reveal a great deal indeed: 33,844 runs in 650 Tests and ODIs. But perhaps more than his cricketing achievements, his greatest quality is that he is a fine human being, with his feet firmly on the ground. Tendulkar was brought up by a very cultured middle-class parents – his father was a professor -- and then his elder brother Ajit took over, and those qualities amply reflect both in his demeanour and batting.

And think of Tendulkar’s stamina and fitness as he has been batting virtually endlessly since making his ODI debut in November 1989 – more than 22 years on the international road. He took 21 years, seven months and eight days – or 7,891 days -- between his first international century in August 1990 in Manchester to the 100th in Dhaka.

Tendulkar was talented and also was extremely lucky that he got an opportunity very early to showcase his skills on the international platform; many a talent goes waste for want of opportunities. But late BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur, when he was chairman of selectors in 1989, picked Tendulkar in the now-famous “team of the 1990s” for the tour of Pakistan under K Srikkanth. It was baptism by blood for the tender teenager, but there was no looking back for the Mumbai maestro.

After Tendulkar’s 100th ton on Friday, former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja said: “Cricket actually tells you about the character of a person; it brings out the personality in a man.” The Indian batting great’s batting does reflect his personality.

A former India captain, Tendulkar never sledges and once famously won over Pakistani speedster Aaqib Javed when he tried to ‘mentally disintegrate’ him. He is a shy person and hardly ventures out of his hotel room when with the team. He mostly orders food in his room, though he usually sits in the front seat of the team bus, on the left side of the driver.

Since he arrived here with the Indian team eight days ago, Tendulkar’s fans here are observing him minutely -- the way he eats, the way he conducts himself, and the way he plays.

Mohammed Abu Salem, the in-charge of practice sessions for all four teams here, on Wednesday pointed out another quality of the widely respected cricketer. “Sachin is also a humble human being. During the practice, I saw a piece of fruit fall from his plate. He immediately picked it up and put it on the table,” he said. “He could have asked someone else to pick it up, but he didn’t; it only showed he respects food too.”

Over the years, Tendulkar has tried his best to remain free of controversies. Even excess money couldn’t force him to change his attitude. He has a mansion in London and recently built a new, independent house in Mumbai. But his feet are firmly planted on the ground.

(This article first appeared in Mail Today newspaper, New Delhi, on March 17, 2012) 

India tour of Australia 2012

Tiredness & lack of focus reasons for India's capitulation in Sydney

By Qaiser Mohammad Ali in New Delhi

Before the second Test in Sydney began on January 3, 2012, the cumulative Test experienced of just three Indian players was more than the sum total of all 11 players of the Australian team. Sachin Tendulkar (185 Tests), Rahul Dravid (161) and VVS Laxman (131) had played a cumulative 477 Tests while the entire Australian team had played just 408 -- 69 less than the much hyped visitors.

In batting, and the Indians were miles ahead of the Australians. The combined run aggregate total of Tendulkar (15,288) and Dravid (13,172) – 28,460 – was more than the entire Australian XI (27,113).

The difference between the teams was most noticeable in bowling. Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan’s 280-wicket tally was more than the 236 wickets that all Australians had taken – and not one Australian had taken 100 wickets.

The difference between the two teams ended there. Period. The Michael Clarke-led Australians were more determined and hungry to perform; the Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side was causal. The Aussies showed more intent; the Indians went through their motions. The home side players were markedly more aggressive; the Indians, widely known as good hosts, proved they could be gullible guests too.

And, not to forget, the Australians were fresher than the tired Indians who have been on the road since time immemorial. Tiredness and lack of focus were the main reasons for their abject surrender. The Indian team is the most travelled of all the national sides. But arrogant mandarins of the world’s richest cricket body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), think players are machines that don’t need oiling or rest.

BCCI’s stated policy is that whoever wants rest can pull out of the national team. This clearly implies ‘we don’t give a damn to the results of the national team; our main aim is to fill BCCI’s coffers and bask in reflected glory’.

Only Dhoni – apart from the powerful Tendulkar – has so far mustered courage to take rest, in 2008 and after the recent home ODI series against England. Dhoni, who also plays for BCCI president N Srinivasan’s IPL team Super Kings, can afford to do it. Can any other player take rest with a guarantee that he would return to the team after he’s refreshed? NO.

In the absence of an association, players cannot afford to protest on the issue of ‘too much cricket’, and other issues, to a Board that can be very vindictive, as we have seen in the case of Ashish Nehra.

(This story first appeared in Mail Today)