Players' association set
to take-off
The much-awaited body to represent Indian cricketers is likely to be floated on the eve of the third and final India-West Indies Test in Kolkata next week.
"Hopefully, we will make a formal announcement about the formation of the Indian Cricketers' Association on October 29," former Test cricketer and driving force behind the new body, Arun Lal disclosed on Friday.
Lal said the ICA will hold a gala fund-raising dinner two days later as its maiden venture for the benefit of first class cricketers.
He said the entire India and West Indies squads as also Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya would be invited to the dinner, which would be held on the second day of the Test, starting on October 30 at the Eden Gardens.
India skipper Sourav Ganguly himself has taken the
initiative to invite West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev
Bhattacharya, an avid cricket fan, for the function. The guest
list includes several former Test stars and leading
figures from corporate and media houses, Lal informed.
Though Lal refused to confirm speculation that Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and he would be the president
and secretary respectively of the newly-formed body, he said: "What is certain now is that both of us will play some leading role, but in what capacity you will come to know soon."
Lal also informed that former all-rounder Ravi Shastri would be a key committee member and seniors like Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble are also expected to
take their seats in a crucial decision-making committee.
The formation of a representative body of Indian players
was on the cards following last month's stand-off between the top cricketers and the BCCI over the sponsorship issue, which cropped up just before the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.
The Indian cricketers had then felt the need for a platform of their own as the BCCI refused to
accept Ravi Shastri as the representative of the players.
The row had even raised the possibility of the board sending a second string side to the island nation,
ignoring the top cricketers who had refused to sign the International Cricket Council's players' terms for the tournament.
Lal, who had earlier advocated the revival of the now-defunct Association for Indian Cricketers which was launched 13 years ago, said the decision to form a new body is in deference to the wishes of the present Indian cricketers.
The AIC had been formed in the wake of a tussle between
the senior players and BCCI over the former's visit to the USA
at the end of an official tour of the West Indies in 1989.
Asked to comment on Dalmiya's contention that the BCCI
would grant recognition to the cricketers body only if it
represents the entire spectrum of players in the country, Lal
said: "We will form the association. Then it's up to the board
to decide whether it recognises it or not."
Emphasising that both the board and players are
responsible partners in ensuring smooth running of the game, he added: "Let's hope for the best."
Lal, who was the secretary of AIC earlier, has been in
touch with most of the top Indian cricketers as well as Shastri since the sponsorship controversy erupted, working on the formation of a players' body.
Giving further details of the gala dinner, he said Kolkata sports minister Subhas Chakraborty and the city mayor Subrata Mukherjee will also be present while some of the
dinner tables have already been sold to the corporate houses
like Sahara India Parivar, Hero Honda, Samsung and Pepsi.
More funds would be generated by auctioning memorabilia
including cricket gear of star players, he said.
The proceeds from the dinner would go towards setting up a corpus to help first class
cricketers and charitable organisations.
The Contract Row - The Complete Coverage
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