Friday, March 7, 2008

Australia: Gilchrist wary of BCCI

Adam Gilchrist has warned against allowing the Indian cricket authorities to become too powerful in the world game.

The wicketkeeper ended his international career in disappointing fashion as Australia were beaten 2-0 in the Commonwealth Bank Series finals by India.

That brought to an end a stormy summer of cricket between the two countries, which has been dogged by controversy - most notably the race row between India's Harbhajan Singh and Australia's Andrew Symonds.

Spinner Harbhajan was originally found guilty of racially abusing Symonds, but was ultimately acquitted on appeal and given a fine for a lesser offence.

Many in Australia were unhappy with the way the process was handled and specifically the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) who threatened to withdraw from the tour if the appeal did not go their way.

Gilchrist believes there is a possibility the Indian authorities could become too powerful.

He told the BBC's Test Match Special: "We all know the power that they are and the way they're happy to flex their muscles and we must pay attention to that.

"Hopefully that's controlled and we can make sure the game's healthy throughout the world."

He added: "I think both teams were very, very relieved that the series finished.

"It was tough work. It wasn't the most enjoyable summer we've been involved with - all the issues on and off the field.

"There was politics played out by the administrators, there were players that were put in a difficult situation and I don't think anyone will want to go back down the path we've been on this summer.

"I do think players and administrators will reflect on this series and learn a lot.

"Our guys will look at things and perhaps do things differently but also hope that administrators and opponents will do things differently.

"It was a great learning experience for everyone involved. We've got to entrust the administrators, whether they be at ICC level or BCCI or Cricket Australia, that they're going to learn from this and the players will too.

"There's all this talk about India becoming the power of the world and dominating world cricket.

"I have faith in that group that, yes, they have rushed at great speed over the last 10, 15, 20 years to the top of the tree in the administrative and financial stakes.

"There'll be a lag time to catch up and lets hope that everyone can combine together to realise that, for the good of the game, it can't be a monopoly.

"We've got to administrate well and I believe that will happen and I think the BCCI will acknowledge that and tie that with the Twenty20 and where world game of cricket is."

Twenty20 will feature prominently in Gilchrist's cricketing life as he prepares to take part in the inaugural Indian Premier League.

Gilchrist was bought by the Hyderabad franchise at last month's auction in Mumbai for US dollars 700,000, although he is not convinced he will receive the full amount.

"If that comes to fruition and everyone gets paid these dollars that's wonderful," he said.

"That's a real bonus at the end of your career to get that sort of money. I'm not going to be naive about that - that's great.

"But we'll see whether it all actually happens and also we'll see what actually happens with the competition."

And with such amounts being paid to players, Gilchrist knows there could be club versus country battles on the horizon.

He said: "At this point in time people are still very much aligned to their country - at this point in time.

"We've got to get through this initial tournament and see how it goes from there.

"There's definitely a possibility it may head like the EPL in football, no doubt about that.

"It's the first time private ownership has come into cricket in a true sense.

"That could lead it that way but at the moment I think players will feel allegiance to their country.

"I can't predict where it will go but I'm thrilled to be a part of it."

He added: "It was really extraordinary, believe me, to be involved in that auction. You feel like a cow rolling up to the auction, being branded.

"I got told I got a price of US dollars 700,000 but I had no idea who'd bought me or what town I was going to or who I was playing with.

"It was the blind leading the blind - extraordinary times and I look forward to being involved and trying to direct it in the right way."

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