As always, GH, wonderful if sobering. I would add that there is a long tale behind this - remember N Srinivasan getting the same gig whilst owner of CSK etc etc etc. And years ago CA, SA and ECB signed up with India to try and share the bulk of the spoils at the expense of the rest of the cricket "family". The broader trend here in India, too, is for politics to become more intrusive in sport when, after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the idea was for it to be less. That went well. On some talks I do, I still start with an image of Modi and note he was better known as President of the Gujarat CA.
But the Jay Shah one is a shocker, especially as Dad is odds on to follow Modi as PM (unless the latter does a Xi Jinping) and where will we all be then?
I think N. Srinivasan got a lot of stick from the 'North Indian' media. In my opinion, he was among the few who knew the game from the grassroots. Not many would know about his contribution to the game which started much before he occupied positions of power. His contribution to Chennai First Division was remarkable.
A fair point Balaji so thanks. The broader theme drawn here, really, is about the conflict of interest and, if anything, that conflict has deepened and widened in Indian sport rather than disappeared. That stands epitomised in the Jay Shah case, but I think I'd suggest it stalks the whole of the IPL and the BCCI.
Great article. Depressing, annoying but true. Inevitable that the ICC moves physical headquarters from neutral Dubai to flag waving India. Emotionally it already has.
The selection of Jay Shah the nepo kid as ICC chairman should be chastised obviously.
But how the hell Gideon came to the conclusion that Barclay was "solid" chairman. The way last two global tournaments such as WC23 and WC24 have been organised is nothing short of sheer incompetence. BCCI played their part in WC23 with late schedule and availability of tickets. But then what did Barclay do ?
What about the corruption in newyork leg of the T20WC and how difficult it was to take flights from one carribbean island to another for most of the games ?
Ho hum. I subscribe to Cricket et al for the quality of the writing and intellect. Long ago gave up on 98% of elite cricket as a viewing prospect. Same with golf. Prefer my own game to watching spoiled brats enabled by corporate toads. AFL; NRL; etc etc.
My interest in professional sport these days is mainly as a barometer for trends in society and politics. Its a cultural bellwether.
All the crap that Gideon eloquently describes is writ large in private investment capital in all areas of business and entertainment - and professional sport is no longer about competition - rather subscriber eyeballs and gambling turnover.
None of these things get resolved by internal reform (snouts in trough) or political regulation (capture by corporate and media power).
It all gets sorted when the financial house of cards collapses as happens every 80 years when we have amused and indulged ourselves to death. No entitlements without taxation. Neil Howe's "Fourth Turning" books describe the cycle.
I have the Fourth Turning lying on my khazi floor. I better start reading it. Cricket is fucked. I can listen to it on the radio on the rare occasion we have a proper game on, but that's about it.
Overpaid prima donnas carrying on like pork chops ..... who can be bothered?
Here's a fun fact! This is what M.S.Golwalkar, the guiding guru of the "one of the world’s creepier personality cults. " said about cricket,
“The costly game of cricket, which has not only become a fashion in our country, but something over which we are spending crores of rupees, only proves that the English are still dominating our mind and intellect. The cricket match that Pandit Nehru and other MPs played some years back was the very depth of this Anglicism. Why could they not play kabbadi, our national game which has been acclaimed by several countries as a great game?”
In short, this is less about ideology and more about money and power.
I fully agree but also mention current Pakistan cricket board chairman is Home minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi and influence of BJP also mention influence of Congress whose party member Sharad Pawar was also ICC chairman do some proper research not choose things which fit in your agenda
Well, it sounds to me like someone from Australia, which not so long ago ruled the cricket, cant digest the fact that someone from the land of snake charmers, can be eligible let alone get selected as the chair of ICC. Jay Shah may be a nepo baby but he has done some excellent work in India for the BCCI. A few days ago Mark Nicholas, the chair of MCC proclaimed Jay Shah to be the most powerful man in world cricket. Naturally, it should follow that the most powerful man in world cricket heads the council which governs world cricket. There is no doubt that International cricket is in transition and we may not know what it looks like a few years from now, so lets not be all doom and gloom about Jay Shah. Give him some time and judge him on his actions and not on his genealogy. He may surprise you all yet.
Cricinfo noticed!
DB birthday that is.
What a depressing article.
Thank you for such an honest forthright insight.
Beautifully written (as always - you could write a thrilling bus timetable if you chose) and chilling. Us sad purists watch and weep.
Great article. Bleak future for cricket.
As always, GH, wonderful if sobering. I would add that there is a long tale behind this - remember N Srinivasan getting the same gig whilst owner of CSK etc etc etc. And years ago CA, SA and ECB signed up with India to try and share the bulk of the spoils at the expense of the rest of the cricket "family". The broader trend here in India, too, is for politics to become more intrusive in sport when, after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the idea was for it to be less. That went well. On some talks I do, I still start with an image of Modi and note he was better known as President of the Gujarat CA.
But the Jay Shah one is a shocker, especially as Dad is odds on to follow Modi as PM (unless the latter does a Xi Jinping) and where will we all be then?
Thanks as ever
I think N. Srinivasan got a lot of stick from the 'North Indian' media. In my opinion, he was among the few who knew the game from the grassroots. Not many would know about his contribution to the game which started much before he occupied positions of power. His contribution to Chennai First Division was remarkable.
That's true. A serious cricket lover. Makes the current mob look even more like philistines.
A fair point Balaji so thanks. The broader theme drawn here, really, is about the conflict of interest and, if anything, that conflict has deepened and widened in Indian sport rather than disappeared. That stands epitomised in the Jay Shah case, but I think I'd suggest it stalks the whole of the IPL and the BCCI.
Amidst the paeans that have already started, thanks for writing this, Gideon!
Great article. Depressing, annoying but true. Inevitable that the ICC moves physical headquarters from neutral Dubai to flag waving India. Emotionally it already has.
I almost wrote that, and you're right.
The selection of Jay Shah the nepo kid as ICC chairman should be chastised obviously.
But how the hell Gideon came to the conclusion that Barclay was "solid" chairman. The way last two global tournaments such as WC23 and WC24 have been organised is nothing short of sheer incompetence. BCCI played their part in WC23 with late schedule and availability of tickets. But then what did Barclay do ?
What about the corruption in newyork leg of the T20WC and how difficult it was to take flights from one carribbean island to another for most of the games ?
Ho hum. I subscribe to Cricket et al for the quality of the writing and intellect. Long ago gave up on 98% of elite cricket as a viewing prospect. Same with golf. Prefer my own game to watching spoiled brats enabled by corporate toads. AFL; NRL; etc etc.
My interest in professional sport these days is mainly as a barometer for trends in society and politics. Its a cultural bellwether.
All the crap that Gideon eloquently describes is writ large in private investment capital in all areas of business and entertainment - and professional sport is no longer about competition - rather subscriber eyeballs and gambling turnover.
None of these things get resolved by internal reform (snouts in trough) or political regulation (capture by corporate and media power).
It all gets sorted when the financial house of cards collapses as happens every 80 years when we have amused and indulged ourselves to death. No entitlements without taxation. Neil Howe's "Fourth Turning" books describe the cycle.
I have the Fourth Turning lying on my khazi floor. I better start reading it. Cricket is fucked. I can listen to it on the radio on the rare occasion we have a proper game on, but that's about it.
Overpaid prima donnas carrying on like pork chops ..... who can be bothered?
Gideon's the man!
Well observed, and how dispiriting.
Here's a fun fact! This is what M.S.Golwalkar, the guiding guru of the "one of the world’s creepier personality cults. " said about cricket,
“The costly game of cricket, which has not only become a fashion in our country, but something over which we are spending crores of rupees, only proves that the English are still dominating our mind and intellect. The cricket match that Pandit Nehru and other MPs played some years back was the very depth of this Anglicism. Why could they not play kabbadi, our national game which has been acclaimed by several countries as a great game?”
In short, this is less about ideology and more about money and power.
That is a very fun fact!
Well, there is always Ashis Nandy and The Tao of Cricket - an Indian game poached by the Britis!
I fully agree but also mention current Pakistan cricket board chairman is Home minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi and influence of BJP also mention influence of Congress whose party member Sharad Pawar was also ICC chairman do some proper research not choose things which fit in your agenda
Whataboutism, Behram. This isn't an essay about politics in cricket. Concentrate on what's in front of you.
🏏⚰️ so many great words as always. Terrible pictures.
Thanks CJ. Right back at you!
Referring to my own emojis!! Not your stuff!!
Hahaha all good x
Cricket’s number one nepo baby is so so good.
I’ve heard Mr Nepo Baby has changed his term from 2 to 3 years already, is this true?
I'd love to buy a copy of The One Indiscretion Of His Life from you Gideon but I'm having difficulty making contact with you through Gideonhaigh.com
Peter
e: cowellpe@bigpond.com
I'll drop you a message Peter
Well, it sounds to me like someone from Australia, which not so long ago ruled the cricket, cant digest the fact that someone from the land of snake charmers, can be eligible let alone get selected as the chair of ICC. Jay Shah may be a nepo baby but he has done some excellent work in India for the BCCI. A few days ago Mark Nicholas, the chair of MCC proclaimed Jay Shah to be the most powerful man in world cricket. Naturally, it should follow that the most powerful man in world cricket heads the council which governs world cricket. There is no doubt that International cricket is in transition and we may not know what it looks like a few years from now, so lets not be all doom and gloom about Jay Shah. Give him some time and judge him on his actions and not on his genealogy. He may surprise you all yet.