Guha’s letter ill-timed, but fresh low for BCCI bosses

Indian cricket officials love to set off fires around them. But the latest ‘leakgate’ that has ignited differences between skipper Virat Kohli and coach Anil Kumble could engulf them if holders India are too distracted and lose to Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy at Edgbaston on Sunday. Journalists who have spent hours in hotel lobbies in the past awaiting some driblet of news from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) meetings will be all too familiar of cricket bosses stoking the fire and steering them in a direction that ends in their favour. Still, for sheer poor timing nothing can match the current crisis stoked on the eve of a major tournament, built through comments from cials that the India skipper is reluctant to work with Kumble, though the former skipper and country’s leading Test bowler is only a year into his job and has presided over mostly wins.

FRESH MUDDLE

Ramachandra Guha, the cricket historian and author, has only added to the muddle through his ill-timed listing of all that the four-member Committee of Administrators from which he quit didn’t take on board to reform the cricket Board.

The timing of his resignation suggests the Kumble affair has influenced his decision. And until one of the prime characters involved speak out, one can only go by what Kumble has achieved so far as coach.

There seems to be feverish activity around the team in Birmingham, 48 hours before the Pakistan game when the Indian brains trust should be focused entirely on tactics.

Cricket Advisory Committee members Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly reportedly seeking the team’s feedback on Kumble, it appears one clumsy effort to handle the crisis.

CHAPPELL-GANGULY II?

BCCI officials have already dam through leaks on how Kumble has upset many players, raising the Greg Chappell versus Sourav Ganguly saga all over again.

The CoA, appointed in Janu ary, is struggling to fix the admin istrative structure and rid those who are either ineligible or face conflict of interest issues.

Guha has in an exhaustive let ter to the CoA chief, Vinod Rai said why he has resigned, and raised concerns that players hav ing a say in the coach’s appoint ment would give rise to ‘a super star culture gone berserk’.

Guha has raised many valid issues. But not pushing the CoA to act on it, and instead putting it out in the public domain, he may have eroded the credibility of the forum he was a part of.

Virat Kohli has every right to flag issues he feels can hurt the team. However, the manner in which the issue is dominating the start of India’s fresh season, and on the eve of a major event, wil only give rise to fresh criticism of his prima donna behaviour.

Indian cricket has not had a bigger power than Sachin Ten dulkar. But even during his low est moments --- when he gave up captaincy after the second stint and had issues with Chappell -he never indulged in power games that could have hurt the