Mumbai: By dropping Sunil Gavaskar from its governing council this week, BCCI has put a pick axe on its own feet. No particular reason is given for dropping him, while retaining Ravi Shastri (of Mangalore) and Mansur Ali Khan (Pataudi near Delhi). But dropping Sunny like hot brick when CWG events are starting in Delhi on Oct 4, is a bad omen for BCCI.
The new Chairman, Srinivasan of Chennai, who fell out with Lalit Modi (ousted from BCCI in a disgrace) soon after IPL-3 has strengthened his status in BCCI, with Sharad Pawar going over to ICC as Chairman. BCCI happens to be the richest cricket control body in the world today.
Sunil Gavaskar is a highly talented person, apart from being the greatest opening batsmen in cricket (as praised by Don G. Bradman of Australia). He has written books on cricket, served in ACC and other large companies in Mumbai, writes sports columns in many daily papers, and acts as commentator. BCCI had made him their Technical Committee chairman. There is no drug addiction, or match fixing cases in India in the last several decades Gavaskar has been with ICC and left it to pursue sports commentaries.
BCCI has been paying a handsome honorarium to Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Mansur Pataudi, of Rs.1 crore each every year. The Administration jobs are now converted to honorary posts with no salary attached. Gavaskar may have asked for a higher payment before getting dropped. There are reports that Sunny is ready to work for BCCI free of cost hereafter. If so, BCCI has brought him round.