Veni, Vidi, Vici! Call them sly, opportunistic or deceitful, in short – Machiavellian – N Srinivasan and Lalit Modi changed the face of cricket. Senior journalist Alam Srinivas’s book “Cricket Czars: Two men who changed the gentleman’s game” gives a detailed account of how “the duo ensured that the sport would never be the same again.” They came, they saw, they conquered!
As the two rose to power simultaneously, so did the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The 257-page book outlines how the BCCI, which has always been a den of Machiavellian politics, became the powerhouse of world cricket or in simpler terms “the bully.”
From Modi’s imposing strategies to Srini’s carrot and stick policy, it was power which drove the duo, as they went about expanding their fiefdoms. In the author’s words, this book is about two czars who globally transformed the game.
It gives an insight as to how Srinivasan manipulated his way into the BCCI. From backstabbing his ‘mentor’ AC Muthiah to blindly believing Vastu Venkatesan for productive outcomes, many factors contributed to Srinivasan’s rise.
While Srini was known for his shrewdness and cautious approach, Modi was overconfidence personified. His stubbornness and hasty decisions caused his downfall, after a steep rise. The two tactfully played their cards in the Jagmohan Dalmiya-Sharad Pawar conflict, benefiting the most. The focus then shifts to their famous, rather infamous rivalry. The explanation of how Modi dictated the Indian Premier League’s fortunes as an autocratic commissioner keeps the reader absorbed. There is no dearth of drama, courtroom or otherwise.
Both were accused of conflict of interest. While Srinivasan’s Chennai Super Kings connection despite being in the scheme of things in the BCCI was oft questioned, Modi bore the brunt of irregular deals, contracts favouring family and friends, his proxy shares in at least three of the IPL teams.
The author goes on to discuss how politics, women and money changed (read tarnished) the sport and increased the proximity of fixing (both match and spot).
Srinivasan might have handed the knockout punch to Modi, but his own son-in-law caused him disrepute by being arrested on allegations of fixing.
The book then discusses the intricacies of how the bookies go about fixing, giving the prime example of former South Africa skipper Hansie Cronje.
In all, it makes for an interesting read and the author’s use of simple language, without many jargon, throws it open to a wider audience. It is tailor-made for those with a penchant for BCCI and its method of operation.