Bishan Singh Bedi, one of the staunchest critics of BCCI, raised several questions about the current state of Indian cricket on the the sidelines of an annual DDCA Conclave. The former India captain spoke about the scheduling of the ongoing Sri Lanka series, the board’s decision to not play a bilateral series with Pakitan and more at the event in Delhi.
Bedi said that Indian cricket team should be preparing for potentially challenging overseas tour of South Africa instead of playing the Sri Lankan series which is a virtual no contest.
“What are we gaining out of these Sri Lanka series? We are just playing them time and again. We thrashed them in their backyard and now we are thrashing them here also. At least let’s have some contest. There is no context,” Bedi was quoted as saying by PTI.
“Had this Sri Lanka tour not happened, the boys would have played Ranji Trophy. May be had a camp also for preparation before going to South Africa. That’s the camp Virat [Kohli] was referring to [during the pre-match conference before the second Test in Nagpur],” he added.
The spinner who has 266 wickets in 67 Tests, wants the word ‘control’ to be removed from ‘Board of Control for Cricket in India’ as it “stinks” of autocratic, dictatorial mindset.
“The national logo [India flag] has to be worn by the Indian team and not the BCCI logo. I am very clear in my mind. The players are not playing for BCCI but are playing for India. New Zealand and Australia have national emblems. England has national emblem. Even Pakistan and Bangladesh wear national emblems.”
“Let me be very clear. Indian Cricket Board (ICB) or Cricket India should be the name,” he said.
The 71-year-old also said that one should not “narrow down the meaning of patriotism” by politicising bilateral cricketing relationship with Pakistan. The Indian government has not given any go-ahead to Indo-Pak bilateral series since the last one (a short limited overs series) was held in India in 2012. Since then, India have played against Pakistan only in ICC events.
“Why politicise cricket? Have you been able to wipe off terrorism by not playing cricket? Cricket is a platform to come closer,” Bedi told PTI during the interaction.
Asked if patriotism in the current social scenario is intrinsically linked to being anti-Pakistan, one of the finest left-arm spinners of all time, said: “This is not right. I am not talking anti-India if I am asking for a cricket series with Pakistan. Let’s not narrow down the meaning of patriotism.”