Gavaskar, Kapil find a few Lodha proposals harsh

kanpur, September 25

Former India captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev today said a few of the recommendations made by the Lodha panel were too harsh. 

“I have great respect for the three gentlemen who gave these recommendations but I feel ‘one state one vote’ is a bit hard on the associations which are the founding members of the board,” said Gavaskar. “If you go to England, you will find that not every county plays the County Championship. Not every state plays in Australia’s first class championship (Sheffield Shield). Therefore, to have every state play Ranji Trophy is going to dilute the level of cricket.” 

Kapil agreed with Gavaskar.  “A few things delight me. There is an age (limit) for everybody. But I cannot understand that Maharashtra will have only one vote. How could a place like Mumbai which has done so much for cricket can vote only after three years?” said Kapil. “The mindset needs to change. You can’t say this is my thing; this is ours. We have to take the game ahead. If you are stiff with ideas, it won’t help anybody. They should sit down and discuss what is best for cricket.” 

Gavaskar said the tenure restrictions do not serve any purpose since it may hinder the progress of a deserving administrator. “What is the pinnacle in an administrator’s career? It is becoming the president. You don’t become the president in three years. You are the president because you have served some terms as a vice-president. Once you come to that level, it’s then you become the president,” he said. Kapil felt the selectors should have a minimum of “five-year term”. “Three years is too quick. In a three-year term, before you know whether you should do something or not, the time is over,” he said.  — PTI