MUMBAI: A patent debate that is invariably raised in connection with sports administration, in India and elsewhere, is over the presence of politicians in its domain.
Critics may have scored several points in most cases, but there are sports bodies, state-level associations and national federations, which surely have benefited to a great extent from the good offices and, perhaps, even the clout, of people highly placed in government or public life.
The classic examples in India are that of a few state associations and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, in the main.
The Mumbai Cricket Association would not have had its own stadium, but for a couple of ministers who were reining in the Maharashtra government at various points of time.
Today, it is enjoying a rare bounty on account of the fact that a powerful politician like Sharad Pawar, who is even destined to be the next chief of the International Cricket Council, very much in harness on both horses.
But it is not all roses all the way. There are at least a couple of state cricket associations that have been caught in the vortex of change. In a democracy, no government is permanent. But it is also not necessary that every change of regime must bring about a change of fortunes.
The Rajasthan Cricket Association, or rather its president Lalit Modi, who has done so much for the state unit as to upgrade all the stadium facilities and also build a state-of-the-art cricket academy, has now to go through embarrassing moments, as there has been a change of regime in the state.
Modi, whose brainchild is the Indian Premier League and is its commissioner, may even have to pull out his team Jaipur Royals out of Rajasthan because of the hostile attitude of the bureaucracy there.
Jaipur Royals, led by former Australian spin wizard Shane Warne, are the holders of the title and have a tremendous following in Jaipur. It will be a shame if that happens.
The turmoil in Rajasthan Cricket Association may have its echo elsewhere. But Modi, in particular, who runs the whole show and has meticulously prepared for the next edition in April, is not having a peaceful time.
His bigger worry is that the IPL matches will coincide with the run-up to the general elections in India in April-May. But there is no letting off on his part or all the others connected with the mega Twenty20 event.
Meanwhile, it must be mentioned that it is the sports administrators who go to the politicians. They do not come walking in on their own.
