The controversy surrounding the Eden Gardens pitch got a new twist on Thursday with a top BCCI official slamming both curator Prabir Mukherjee and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

Niranjan Shah, a vice-president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said Mukherjee had no business to defy India skipper MS Dhoni. He also said the curator should have been reined in by the local association.

“It is unfortunate that the situation has been allowed to come this far. The curator should have no voice or choice on the matter. He must not be allowed to speak. The choice of the pitch should be made by the team management and local management. All the controversy surrounding the Eden wicket is uncalled for,” Shah said on Thursday.

The former BCCI secretary said the board should take a serious view of the matter. “I think the BCCI must formulate a policy and curators should have no choice but to follow the instruction of the team management. To get a pitch of its choice is the prerogative of the team management. The curator should not be allowed to come in the way,” Shah said.

It began as a dream to give Rajkot a state of the art cricket centre and now after 3 long years of sheer hard work, planning and execution Saurashtra cricket's new home is set to take centre stage.

While Saturday will see Challenger Trophy being played out at the swanky new Rajkot Stadium, this new ground will also host its first international match in January 2013.

An ambition coupled with aspiration & urge saw me travelling every day for over the past 3 years almost daily monitoring progress of the new stadium.

Saurashtra Cricket Association's newest possession is spread over 29.48 acres, it will host close to 30,000 cricket fans from all over Rajkot & other neighbouring places in Saurashtra.

I have had many chances of travelling around the globe as senior BCCI official and we have picked up the best in stadia facilities around the world. Our main thought was to create a spacious, airy stadium which will enhance spectator experience of watching live cricket in an economical budget.

Seldom will you hear cricket fans stating grounds in India are spectator friendly as compared to Australia and England. This was the perception we at Saurashtra Cricket Association wanted to change & hence this ground which is just 12 kms away from the Rajkot city will continue to be a piece of inspirational work. It was imminent to have best facilities & we paid detailed attention to those little things that make a big difference. While the stadium has bucket seats throughout, there are close to 70 Hospitality & special boxes of 15 seats each for people seeking luxury at cricket stadium. In fact, in time to come we could see felicitations and important key events being hosted at SCA's new stadium. The stadium is equipped with CCTV cameras deployed at various strategic spots along with a control room area. In fact, special care has been taken to ensure that security officials have an easy workplace at the ground. Adding to this, the exit areas too are many in numbers only ease the spectators exit after a cricket match. The media centre draws it inspiration from Lord's spaceship in London.

I would like to begin this blog by stating that thoughts mentioned below are personal and this are not the views of BCCI office bearer. Above all, I am a sports lover & just like all of you, I have served cricket purely for love of the game.

As I write this blog, I have read and seen a lot of comments that have come through over resumption of India- Pakistan bilateral cricket ties. But as it goes with all big decisions, not everyone can be happy.

As a cricket fan, there is no series as big as India versus Pakistan. It's a series with high public interest, it also brings out the best in the players. While I believe Pakistan cricket team lacks the character that once made their team so tough to beat, but this rivalry also creates high emotions. There is no denying that such a big series definitely has high commercial value but at the same time it will help us to bring back grounds to the stadiums. The crowd turnout was impressive during the just concluded Indian Premier League, but bilateral series hosted in India previously has recorded its worst ever crowd turnout.

While cricket fans would come out in large numbers to watch their heroes play at home after 2 long series in England & Australia, India & Pakistan is a battle that not a single cricket fan wants to miss out.

Television debates might question is it the right time, former cricketers might differ with BCCI's decision & even the social networking websites display strong opinions, I would urge one and all in helping me spread the word, lets not mix sports with politics.

I reiterate, without hurting sentiments of people we all make attempts to move on & this is just the start, it had to be made by BCCI. We have seen previously cricket ties between two nations have been highly politicised, with heads of the country meeting on the sidelines of cricket & using sport to potray a friendly image. I would hope that while Pakistan arrives in India this time, it is left to be a pure sporting extravaganza and let it not turn out to be fortress with Political editors attending the match with head of countries discussing terrorism on the sidelines of a very crucial cricket match.

I heard Indian Captain MS Dhoni say, we are professionals & would play any team invited by our Board. But I can assure you every Indian cricketer is excited about the series against Pakistan, even though they might refrain from making comments in the media.

I would also like to congratulate BCCI President, Mr Srinivasan to take such a bold step to resume bilateral cricket ties between both the countries after a gap of over 5 years. But it is going to be key not to over exploit this rivalry with too many frequent India-Pakistan games.

While I sign off hoping for an epic India-Pakistan series, I know lot of queries are being raised will the series actually take place in the current scenario. The cricket fan in me is exuberant to watch this battle & thinks it's just what Pakistan cricket needed in current scenario to renew the game in troubled nation. I would still keep my fingers crossed, as the corridors of uncertainty loom large when it comes to these two neighbouring countries. As WG Grace once said, they have come to watch me bat and not watch you bowl. I will only believe, it's India versus Pakistan once the umpires call it play on a cricket pitch with a few thousands cheering the home team.

BCCI’s functionality and transparency should never be doubted. BCCI has been a remarkably successful sports body and has taken Indian Cricket on top most position on the world map, be it performance or administration. It is rightly said in Times of India’s editorial that “All of this has been possible because BCCI functions independently, and its fortunes are directly linked to its performance”

BCCI does not fall in category of RTI act. However, BCCI has always been very transparent in its activities and has been submitting all necessary information to Government bodies, media and concerned individuals. BCCI’s aim, purpose, intentions and objectives are only for betterment of Indian Cricket. And all concerned officials of BCCI are dedicated only on making the game more and more successful and eventful.

None of should ever forget that Cricket is a game and it will have its own ups and down, positives and negatives, good performance and bad performance.

Agreed that our Indian Cricket team did quite badly in recent test series against England. Agreed that our expectation shattered away. However, no one should ever forget that this team gave excellent and outstanding performance till this series and won some of the finest tournaments, including the World Cup. This very team was on the top in all aspects and in all formats.

It is sad that as and when our team performs badly, all so called Cricket Critics bombard with their advices, opinions, views and suggestions. They tend to forget (conveniently) that this team, these players have given best possible performance and they aim and determined to give better than the best performance. Earlier also, these critics had humiliated and disgraced the same team during debacle of World Cup 2007. And then same team brought us the World Cup with glorious and outstanding performance. The comment or scathing criticism, and that too in very harsh manner, for the sake of critising or malining any person, any team or any body is rather undesirable; and not a freedom of expression in its true perspective.

The criticism at any level, by anyone should rather be healthy, constructive, positive and objective. It should not be directed at or result into any loss of morale, loss of faith, loss of courage for the glory of Indian cricket; and more so, a loss of belief in ourselves for brighter future of the Indian cricket. Our aim and efforts should be directed and targeted at strengthening the weaker aspects and not weakening the strong aspects.

In my opinion, neither our team nor BCCI should be shaken  with such criticism and continue their focus on betterment of Cricket. I am truly confident that the team will start performing well. Let us all forget this series like a bad dream and concentrate on forthcoming matches/tournaments.

SCA and colleagues of Cheteshwar Pujara in his home team of Saurashtra feel very pleased and proud for his admirable performance in his very first test match against Australia.

Cheteshwar has proved and exemplified as to what could be achieved with discipline, determination, commitment, confidence and above all tenacity and constancy of purpose.

All good wishes to him for many more admirable achievements and laurels.

On behalf of the members of the Governing Body of Saurashtra Cricket Association and on my own, I very heartily congratulate Cheteshwar Pujara on his selection to play for the Indian Cricket Team in the forthcoming test series against Australia.

Born on 25/01/1988 at Rajkot, Cheteshwar is a right hand bat and a leg break bowler. He is a pride of Saurashtra Cricket Association and its teams. He is the most promising and talented outstanding cricketer not only of Saurashtra but of India too. He was appointed as captain of India ‘A’ tour of England 2010.

Our all good wishes to Cheteshwar to perform admirably in the test series against Australia. May he enhance the pride and glory of Saurashtra cricket with his remarkable performance.

It is a paradoxial anomaly that 35000 crs of public money could be spent for CWG in rather much wasteful and much controversial manner where the public at large has quite little interest.
 
As against this the Indian Cricket runs on its own and develops large infrastructure on its own. It also enhances the prestige of the country and evokes great interest and enthusiasm among the largest number of countrymen. And yet the government has no financial headache and burden for the Indian Cricket, BCCI, apex body of Indian cricket indirectly contributes crores of rupees to the exchequer. BCCI has rightly decided not to part with hundred cr. The cricket money should go in cricket only.

No Individual is bigger than Institution or Game. Institution gives power and fame but at the same time, also gives responsibility. It is rightly and reasonably  expected by the institution that any individual entrusted with any power and responsibility will follow the rules, regulations and procedures with total transparency and honesty.

Criticising or maligning any person or institute without ascertaining factual position is indeed undesirable and is certainly not a freedom of expression in its true perspective.
It is rightly and reasonably expected from free and fearless media that any sensitive issue or a hoax initiated by any one is not followed by others without finding out the facts.