Politician bashing is an Indian passion. After all it is only the politician who is in the business of asking for votes and testing his popularity at regular intervals. He is, therefore, entitled to be criticised. He is accountable to his electorate, to the media and to his party. Hence a question—Why should politicians get into administration of cricket?—is rightly asked about him. This question has not been raised against civil servants—both retired and in-service—police officers, businessmen, traders and even the unemployed. After all the standards of accountability applicable to them are entirely different. Those applicable to politicians are much higher.

Cricket as a sport has witnessed unprecedented popularity in India. Cricketers are unquestionably national heroes. Cricketing nationalism unites the country. Cricket has also attracted huge revenues into the game. It is, therefore, obvious that many would be attracted by the sheer popularity and glamour of the game.

The test for determining the suitability of a cricket administrator is not the principal profession to which he belongs. The real test is the level of commitment that an individual has to the sport. The extent of understanding of the game that he possesses and his ability to contribute as an administrator of the game.

What does administration of cricket involve? It involves professionalising various state associations; it requires building a huge infrastructure to support the game; it further requires involving cricket professionals in the selection and coaching of the cricketers.

Is a politician disqualified from being a cricket administrator merely because he happens to be a member of a political party or a legislative body? In fact, if a politician is committed to the promotion of the sport, his ability to utilise his resourcefulness in building infrastructure and getting resources into the game may well prove to be an asset.

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