Empower the Indian spectators, Mr Pawar

By John Cheeran
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has got new men to run the show.
Team Pawar is going to bring professionalism into Indian board, if not into Indian cricket.
Very laudable agenda, indeed.
It would be silly to ask whether Pawar has the ability to do what Jagmohan Dalmiya failed to do during his long tenure. Pawar, being a proven administrator, has the ability to put things in order. It's a question of whether he really wants to. It's question of priorities for him.
Media has earmarked an immediate agenda for the new team at the BCCI.
Finalise players' contracts, zero in on a CEO for board, reform the BCCI constitution, settle the satellite TV rights issue, bring transparency to board's functioning and stuff like that. All these are worthy causes.
In between former cricketers have taken positions in television studios to bargain for a slice of the power cake. Very good.
Cricketers are important in cricket but what about spectators? The BCCI owes its existence not just to cricketers. Our cricketers and former cricketers are acting as if only they should matter as the BCCI goes about finalizing its agenda.
What about the spectators who make a beeline to the stadium during the match days? What about them, you might ask?
A lot. Indian cricket fans are forking out money and they spend considerable energy and time in supporting their side during all the home matches. Are they -- the BCCI and therespective associations who stage these matches -- giving spectators their money's worth?
I must say they are not. There are hardly any facilities available for the fans at these stadiums. No good refreshment facilities, no basic amenities. Not even decent chairs to sit and watch the game.
They are saying India is the fountainhead of cricket. But then Indian supporters should get their fair share of the action. Pawar and his team must think and find ways to ensure that spectators can enjoy their favourite game at the match venues.
Till now Indian spectators can't buy a match programme, can't get a scorecard and can't pick any match memorabilia from the match venues.
Dalmiya did not have any time to care for paying public because they did not matter to him. In his calculations only TV broadcasters mattered. Dalmiya made Indian board richer by bringing money from ESPN, Star and other TV moghuls.
And how does it matter to Dalmiya and TV rights holders even if no one came to watch the match at the stadium. What matters is the cricket junkie sitting glued to his TV set at his home or wherever.
Dalmiya would have been happy to stage all matches in front of empty stadiums, as he did in 1999 on the last day of the Asian Test Championship at Eden Gardens.
Pawar will find that among all his tasks the toughest would be to improve the lot of the paying public.
If he does not take corrective steps now, the day will not be far away when empty stadiums shall greet the stars.