THE first violation of the contract signed by Indian players with the board of control for cricket in India for the current series against the West Indies has ‘been committed by no other than the skipper, Dilip Vengaskar.
What is the BCCI going to do about it? Nothing, at least for the time being, The national selectors have confirmed Dilip Vengsarkar, who was initially asked to lead the Indian team in the first two Tests, in Delhi and Bombay and the first one day international played at Nagpur on December 8, for the complete series.
The national selectors were apparently not informed of the violation of the contract’ committed by the captain, who is writing in newspapers on the current tour.
The contract issue had raised a Jot of dust prior to the selection of the Indian team for the tour. The players had been asked to sign on the dotted line if they were to play in the series against the West Indies. The national selectors met in Chandigarh on November 21 to select. the Indian team for the Delhi Test. The selectors were told that Ravi Shastri could not be considered for selection as he had not signed on the dotted line. Subsequently it was learnt that Ravi Shastri could not sign the contract as it was not given to him.
The Chairman of the National Selection Committee, Bapu Nadkarni, had “forgotten” to deliver the contract to the star of all-rounder. Subsequently, Ravi Shastri signed the contract and was included in the Indian team which lost the Delhi test.
The new captain had told sports scribers in his first Press Conference in Chandigarh that he was not happy with the various clauses in the contract and would seek amendments to some of the clauses, Obviously, the clause he had in mind was the one relating the ban on players writing or commenting on the series. He then started a syndicated column on the Test series.
A senior functionary of the Board was of the opinion that Vengsarkar was committing gross violation of the contract he had signed with the BCCL the only organ of the BCCI which can take action against the skipper is the Working Committee.
But this committee is not scheduled to meet in the near future. Therefore, taking action fagainst the erring skipper is not possible immediately.
The BCCI Secretary can convene an emergency meeting of the Working Committee by giving 10 days’ notice. He should do so immediately and the erring skipper should be brought to task.
Kapil Dev, according to sources, lost his position as captain not only because of his failures on the field, but also of the role he played on the logo issue which held center stage during the’ Reliance Cup. Should Vengsarkar be allowed to go about violating the same contract? One waits for an answer from the BCCI.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 18, 1987
