Top-notch cricket administrator, Rajya Sabha member and newspaper editor Ranjib Biswal is a rare all-rounder. He won the MP seat outwitting a ruling BJD-backed independent candidate in a high-voltage battle earlier this year. He also finds time to look after his Odia daily, The Samaya.
But Biswal is in the news now as the Governing Council chairman of IPL. The following are the excerpts of a chat with the 43-year-old former India youth cricket captain, who scored 2170 runs and bagged 153 wickets in his decade-long first-class career.
After taking over as chairman of the IPL Governing Council, you said making the competition controversy-free, transparent and successful would be your priority. How far you have been successful?
BCCI has conducted 20 matches successfully in UAE. Forty more are to be played in India and we are confident of ending the show on a successful note.
What about an unidentified person approaching KKR fast bowler Morne Morkel?
The matter was immediately reported to the ICC’s Anti Corruption Unit, which has been educating players on how to stay away from wrongdoings. The players have also become very careful and they are cooperating with ACU.
How has the experience of working with BCCI interim-president Sunil Gavaskar been?
Sunil Gavaskar is a legend and working with him is an honour for me. After the Supreme Court appointed him the interim president for IPL affairs, he was extended full cooperation to know the details of planning and execution. I have been working in with him for smooth staging and a successful ending of the ongoing edition.
Are you in touch with N Srinivasan and do you miss his guidance?
Look, Srinivasan has stepped aside, honouring the instruction of the Supreme Court. But overall, he is the president of BCCI. I have to be in touch with him for other aspects. But touchwood, Srinivasan is not interfering at all in any IPL matters.
Is the seventh edition going to make a record profit?
It is premature to say anything on the subject. The UAE leg did pretty good business and the Indian leg is expected to do even better. Loss or profit will be known only after the completion of the edition.
In your opinion, which two teams are on course to make it to the final?
I don’t want to make any predictions. Honestly, all eight teams have the ability to reach the final.
From a cricketing point of view, what new skills and strategies you have noticed so far in IPL 7?
Improvement has taken place in all three departments of the game. But it has been tremendously visible in the fielding department. The extraordinary catch taken by Chris Lynn will be etched in memory for ever. A lot of young and lesser-known players have also come to the fore, displaying impressive performances.
Are foreign professionals dominating the show in the event management of IPL?
That is not true. IMG is our event management partner and they are doing a good job as far as making arrangements for smooth staging of matches is concerned. And a large number of Indian professionals are also working for IMG.
Being busy as IPL chairman, how do you do justice to your post as Congress MP and a party leader in election campaigns?
I was actively involved in campaigning in my home state. I took a break to help IPL get off to a smooth start. I took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha on April 23. After the announcement of the election results, I will again put on my political cap and work for my party. It is a matter of being at the right place at the right time.