Shoring up image the priority for BCCI, says secy Thakur

You can’t create success stories or clean up the mess overnight but I assure you that in the last seven months, we have tried our best to bring in reforms ur focus was not on the individual but the institution. People have faith in cricket and BCCI, and we can deliver

MUMBAI: With new IPL title sponsor Vivo on board, the real task for the BCCI now is image correction after the previous sponsor Pepsi walked out in the wake of the damage caused by the spot-fixing scandal.

“You can’t create success stories or clean up the mess overnight but I assure you that in the last seven months, we have tried our best to bring in reforms. Our focus was not on the individual but the institution. People have faith in cricket and BCCI, and we can deliver,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said.

Conflict of interest is another issue and the board is hoping to define its scope at the AGM on Nov 9. “We wanted to draw a line somewhere where the image doesn’t get dented and no such untoward incident happens in the future. We are trying to create a paper which makes it clearer,” he added.

The crowd behaviour at Cuttack Barabati Stadium during the second T20 tie and the lack of preparedness in Eden Gardens that forced abandonment of the final T20 tie were also taken up. The Orissa association has been asked to file a report.

“Spectators must refrain from getting into acts which bring a bad name to the association,” he said. Eden Gardens, due to host the World T20 early next year, has been told to work on ANURAG THAKUR, BCCI secretary

the drainage system.

The BCCI is preparing a list on how many players can be retained by the two new IPL franchises for the next two years and how many will go back into the pool. “Once we prepare the list, we will make it public.”

ENGINEER BACKS DHONI KOLKATA: Former India captain Farokh Engineer said MS Dhoni should be given the chance to go out on his own terms despite the recent loss at the hands of South Africa. “Dhoni has done a good job so far. I like him. Everyone has his days. He has served the country very well. We shouldn’t be too keen on packing him off,” Engineer, himself a former wicket-keeper, said.