There is a lot of truth in what the PCA president has to express. The man himself defied many cricketing norms in the process of going for the plum post. He admits to jumping the rota system. Breaking convention once in a while is alright, ``but it should not happen indefinitely,'' says the turban-less sardar. Sounds unacceptably coarse. ISB, with all his determination to ``fight it out'', might find himself beyond the pale. After all, is he not a product of the same system that promotes non-cricketers ?A similar no holds barred tete-e-tete from a cricketer would have invited enormous ridicule from official quarters. Reason ? Bringingdisrepute to the game. I am not certain if the PCA president's remarks have shown the BCCI in a better light.

The BCCI's new president, AC Mutthiah, has taken the first right step by talking of domestic cricket. To what level AC is able to sort out the nitty-gritty at the grassroot level of Indian cricket remains to be seen. AC has pedigree on his side. His sire, MAC, was the real kingmaker in his heyday. I'm dying to fire the first salvo at AC the Vijay Merchant Trophy must be scrapped. Rigged age-certificats are a poor compliment to someone who was, arguably, India's greatest opening batsman. The Cooch-Behar Trophy must return to school and the Rohinton Baria Trophy needs to be revived in all seriousness. Twenty-year-olds are unashamedly playing as under-16s.

The under-19 is a bigger shame. Neither parents, coaches nor associations are inclined to eradicate the evil. I recently saw the Delhi-Haryana match at Palam. Barely six or seven amongst the 22 were genuinely below 19.

Somehow, cricket andschool drop-outs doesn't quite gel with me. Not very long ago, India's new coach harped about the need for education in sports. As of now, the only educated cricketers are from Karnataka. Is it little wonder then that the Indian attack revolves around the Karnataka trundlers.So, the moral of the story is clear for Muthiah. Do everything to improve domestic cricket, but concentrate on grassroots, where mental growth complements physical development. Cricket is a brainy vocation. Only the educated are free in mind and body. Just think Muthiah -- you may throw up good citizens in the process of looking for champion cricketers.