shastri

Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar serving two masters?

“No man can serve two masters.Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”

That’s what the Good Book states.

An article in Outlook India highlighted the inherent conflict of interest in the job profiles of Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri when they (supposedly) provide unbiased, expert comments on games involving India while at the same time they are contracted directly to the Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

Sunil Gavaskar: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

What he said:

“But they have got to remember that achievers, like them, also have two eyes, two hands—and a stomach (to feed)!”

Sunil Gavaskar is unconvinced that his contract with the BCCI as a paid commentator conflicts with his role as an expert for Sky Sports. Ravi Shastri is the other ex-cricketer hired by the Indian administrative body, each paid Rs. 3.6 crores annually. The master opener defends his position saying that there are conflicts in every sphere of life.

What he really meant:

“Hey, if the BCCI and Sky Sports don’t care, why should you? Lump it or leave it.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m not paid by either party.”

Poonam Pandey makes it big riding piggyback on Team India

One thing’s for certain.

We all know who Poonam Pandey is—now.

She’s that little known Kingfisher model who promised to strip nude if Team India won the World Cup.

I’m a serious kind of bloke and it got me wondering immediately why would Ms Pandey want to do this. And just who Poonam Pandey was.

Is she one of those Page 10 celebrities who frequent Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets? A relapsed alcoholic? That would explain it.

No, you idiot, it’s the free publicity.

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The BCCI Institute: Continuous Education (Satire)

In the wake of events that have transpired recently namely the Pak match-fixing scandal and the IPL mess, the BCCI (on advisement from the ICC) has decided to combat the malaise on a war-footing.

In addition to Anil Kumble mentoring the current Indian team, outside consultants are being invited to deliver seminars that will address the ills that plague Indian cricket.

These seminars are to be held under the auspices of the newly formed BCCI Institute whose mission is to provide and foster the continuous growth and education of its stakeholders.

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Corporate Governance

Corporate governance has been in the Indian news headlines quite recently in connection with the scam perpetrated by Raju on Satyam shareholders and employees. Interestingly,  Satyam was the recipient of numerous corporate governance awards. Just goes to prove that just because processes are in place, does not imply that the processes are being followed. The spirit of the law  is more important than the letter of the law. But then India is a nation that loves it’s forms, it’s idiosyncratic processes and customs,it’s  bureaucratic ways and any change is greeted with derision, disdain and shock. Processes are meant to be traditionalized, embedded into the culture of the company and not uprooted without a by your leave! Who minds it’s clutter?

For more laid-back news followers, Satyam was just another scandal in just another family-run business.Satyam despite all its protestations , was just that – a family-run business though it’s shares were listed on the Indian stock exchange and available via ADRs.The more engrossing and entertaining corporate scandal has been the IPL imbroglio and it’s many running installments in the Indian media rumor mill.

Now, the IPL has a governing council which is equivalent to a corporate board of directors. In theory, a board of directors is an independent body that oversees the management of the corporate body or entity. It is there to make sure that the right processes are adhered to, that due diligence is carried out while executing strategy and no hanky-panky or unethical acts are carried out by any of the top management honchos.

But in practice, this is easier said than done. Most corporate boards are appointed with inputs from the incumbent management and thus cronyism is the name of the game. The typical board is populated with members who thus tend to be hand-in-glove with top  management. This seems to have been the case with the IPL governing council. Despite the presence of luminaries such as Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and M A K Pataudi on the governing council, the BCCI finds itself facing a scandal of gargantuan proportions with conflict of interest and high-handedness tarnishing the fabric of IPL governance.

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