Bindra's Wishlist

Really nice article this by Amit Varma on Wisden Cricinfo. Some of the points made provoke thought:

1. This one is obvious and indubitable:

"Bindra's Wishlist: One – Break out of the honorary system
The BCCI is run by honorary office bearers, who have day jobs that keep them busy, and Bindra would like to see it professionalised. "Set up a board of directors, hire full-time executives, led by a CEO, who are accountable, and the system will run beautifully.""

2. This one I agree with completely:

"Bindra's Wishlist: Two – The BCCI should start a TV Channel
"India is the hub of world cricket," says Bindra, "and we should exploit that. Why sell the TV rights if we can exploit them ourselves? We should start a TV channel. And I have a blueprint for how it would run."

3. This is the one that appeals to me the most:
"Bindra's Wishlist: Three – Promote domestic cricket"

It is so easy to crib about the lack of quality of domestic cricket. Often times we are wrong. For eg. I was far more interested in the Duleep Trophy game last week than the pathetic demolition of NZ by Australia. The batting of VVS Laxman in the 2000 Ranji Trophy was of such sublime quality that it forced the selectors to reconsider him (a rare achievement in India).

The sentence below is a sad reality:
"I find it ridiculous that people in India watch US college basketball on TV – college basketball, mind you – and don't watch the Ranji Trophy final."

4. This idea also I full endorse. For eg. Wouldn't it be great to have Mumbai United led by Ponting and featuring Tendulkar, Lara and Gilchrist take on the Bangalore United led by Dravid and featuring Kumble, McGrath and Hayden ???

Bindra's Wishlist: Four – Start an international league
"We should start a league like the European soccer leagues," says Bindra. "Build it around cities or states, and a fierce local following will develop. Invite international players. With the audiences in India, it can reach the level of European soccer.

"It can be bigger than international cricket."

5, 6 and 7 talk about merchandising, having adequate spectator facilities and beating Cricinfo by starting our own website (about time it is done) - I am available BCCI if you are looking for a developer at a very fair price !!!