The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a host of anti-corruption measures which will come into effect during the Champions League T20 tournament beginning later this month.
While welcoming the idea, a few former cricketers TNIE spoke to felt that the scope of these steps should be broadened and they should be applied to all levels of cricket played in the country. According to them, then only will this drive to spread awareness against corruption reach its destination.
Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More says the net should be cast wider. “It’s good that the BCCI has taken this initiative. The state associations should also follow suit and finally, this drive should reach school and local level cricket. So that the kids know what is good and bad and when they reach the senior level, it’s already in their mind,” he said.
Off-spin legend Erapalli Prasanna too felt these measures should be more widespread. “It’s good to see that the BCCI is taking such decisions in order to wipe out corruption in cricket. It’s a positive step. But the more important thing is to educate youngsters. For that to happen, there has to be blanket application of these measures, across all levels of cricket in the country. Then only will the ultimate objective of eliminating corruption be achieved,” said Prasanna.
While the BCCI announced these measures after its working committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday, it mentioned specifically that they will be applied in the Champions League T20 tournament only. There was no mention whether international and domestic matches in India will also come under these rules. BCCI’s interim president Jagmohan Dalmiya, following whose suggestion these rules have been formulated, was not available for comment when Express approached him on Monday.
More reiterated the importance of educating youngsters. “It’s heartening to see the BCCI putting in an effort. It will be better if players get to know about these measures from a young age. That way, they will be finished products in terms of education in this whey they reach the senior level,” More said.
Former India spinner Maninder Singh felt these steps will eventually be applied to all levels of cricket. “It’s a step in the right direction and they sound close to foolproof to me. I think because the CLT20 is around the corner they have announced the rules for this tournament only. But eventually, I think they will be applied to all levels of cricket,” he said.