Quote:October 8, 2014



You do know what they say about the best laid plans, don't you?  Well, just in case the BCCI may have forgotten, it got a rude reminder with a good, old-fashioned, West Indian trouncing of the world champions in the first ODI.

Desperate to resurrect some semblance of world status to a team that has struggled (and often failed) to live up to its dubious reputation as world champions, many believe that the infamous IPL (read BCCI) "led" by the equally infamous Srinivasan, orchestrated the timely suspension of Sunil Narine.



Did Narine's suspension from the Champion's League finals opened the door for Doni's Chennai Super Kings who had desperately crawled its way across the playoff line?  You do know who owns the Chennai Super Kings, don't you? Why, it’s India Cement Company. And you do know who owns India Cement, don't you? Why, it’s none other than Srinivasan, of course.

And you do know who Srinivasan is, don't you? Why, it’s that upstanding gentleman of the IPL corruption investigation to whom India's Supreme Court Judge, A.K. Patnaik, was referring when he remarked:

"Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair? It’s nauseating. If you don't step down, then we will pass an order".   



It could, of course, all be one big coincidence.



Now don't get me wrong. I have no problems with Sunil Narine, or any bowler for that matter being called for exceeding the already liberal allowable limit. In fact, it is no secret that I am, and have always been, wary of that ruling because it opened the door to all manner of unintended manipulation. But the timing and the manner of Narine's suspension does raise some eyebrows. Narine has played in every IPL to date, and was the leading wicket-taker and most economical bowler going into this year's Champion’s League playoff. In fact, in the preliminary round against Dhoni’s CSK, Narine bowled his 4 overs for an expensive 9 runs.



Suddenly we get to the final game of the preliminary round and Narine is reported by the umpire for a suspect action. Now get this: the "IPL authorities" (is that a pseudonym for the alleged Srinivasan cabal?) ruled that Narine may play in the next game but should his action again be questioned then he will be ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Sure enough, he was called in the next game, and ruled out of the finals.



Why was Narine not called earlier in the tournament where he mesmerized every opponent?  Why was he given the option to play the semifinals with the proviso that if questioned again he would be ruled out of the entire tournament, which in this case would be the finals? 

As they say, its ok to think that you are smart, but don't think that everyone else is stupid. 



This 124-run thrashing of India by a Narine-less West Indies, all in the paper tiger’s own backyard, is a fitting reminder that we all need a little humbling experience from time to time just to keep it real.

Will the BCCI learn anything from the experience?

No.

Money power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.