Very often, the BCCI has become synonymous with ‘money,’ ‘political power,’ and cricketing audacity to stamp authority on the other boards. Every Indian article that is closely linked to the cricketing board and money can be traced back to the famous words of the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. “If the International Cricket Council (ICC) is the voice of cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the invoice of cricket,” admitted Pataudi in 2010, a time when the BCCI were slowly yet steadily feeding on the money to become the monster that we know them to be today. It could all be easily traced back to India’s first involvement as a member of the ICC, the mastermind Jagmohan Dalmiya. The first Asian president captured the confidence of the sub-continental countries and made them visible on the map, almost two decades after India lifted the 1983 World Cup. After that, it was India’s regime, slowly gaining all control points for the major prize, ‘world cricket.’ 

BCCI’s initial contact with a Test-playing national was even before the heinous tag attached to them, of being ‘villainous,’ in 2009. In the age and time of Whatsapp forwards, we tend to ignore some hard-hitting facts. And, here, just in the span of a long-forward message on a family group, I present you the facts that could just prove its point itself. However, I will hang around, to make sure that the point is here and there and everywhere to stay when we have a repeat of the ‘2012,’ disaster.  

The BCCI is just looking for money after the IPL hit its second successful season. It is true that the board was after money and who would not after having masterminded one of the best T20 leagues in the world. If you did let that slip through your fingers, you could never be part of the major players in the cricketing world. However, there is that one catch that is attached with money that the BCCI put in the same efforts back into the game. In 2009, the BCCI extended their hand to help in the redevelopment of Zimbabwe cricket. And this was just not the first sign of what the BCCI had in store for the development of the game when it was not necessary on their part to put their foot forward for the African nation. 

“The meeting was to discuss the role the BCCI can play in the redevelopment of Zimbabwe cricket in the years to come,” the Indian board said on 23 January 2009. 

Afghanistan’s bread and butter

While Afghanistan Cricket board were providing the country with the needed butter, they still needed a base or a bread where the butter could be applied. The base, the bread, India’s very own Greater Noida stadium. It was essentially where the next-gen superstars such as Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman all made their first impressions. If not for Greater Noida and the support from the BCCI, Afghanistan would have had to spend a few more years, trying to convince the other cricketing nations to travel to the war-prone country, where they could have a peaceful game of cricket. Much like being a monk in the middle of a minesweeper. However, the monk was guided to the cricketing temple, India, which became a holy grail for Afghanistan Cricket. 

14 June 2019, Afghanistan’s skipper Asghar Afghan walked out alongside Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane. It is true that India were missing some of the key players, that included Virat Kohli. However, it is not true that they played with a second-string side, they the entire team ready to rumble against Afghanistan. After starting with the shortest format, it was the first time that they switched to the longest one, with India still being one of the pillars of strength for the otherwise, war-prone Asian country. 

According to a Quint report, India’s apex board pledged to assist Afghanistan’s junior teams to play in India as well as providing assistance for the improvement of facilities. Facilities that included, coaching, umpiring and other technical support roles. The BCCI has also pledged to assist junior teams from Afghanistan to play in India, as well as provide assistance for the improvement of coaching, umpiring, and other technical support roles. Alongside this, the Indian government recently provided $1 million for the construction of a cricket stadium and adjoining facilities in Kandahar. And, ever since then, India has continued to pledge their support to the Afghanistan side. 

Donnie darkoing my way back to the start of the article, in 2000, Jagmohan Dalmiya’s admission as ICC’s president paved the way for a rise in Test status for Bangladesh. They became the 10th nation in the process to be recognised as a Test-playing nation. The invitation to play the neighbours in a one-match Test was mouth-watering and the first of many Tests for the now ninth-ranked side in the Test rankings. 

"Others would say he (Jagmohan Dalmiya) recognised the kind of passion that people in Bangladesh have for the game and, in the long run, the sport would benefit hugely from that," journalist Dileep Premachandran wrote in his blog then. 

On 10th November 2000, India took on Bangladesh in an over-crowded Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. The result, however, never mattered, as it was the Tiger’s first appearance in the longest format of the game. Fast-forward into 2019, the appointment of Sourav Ganguly as the president of the BCCI ignited the relationship to the next level. 

"We have a very good relationship with the BCCI, and it will take one big step forward with Sourav taking over the highest role in Indian cricket. I hope we will get an extra advantage as he is very close to us," BCB’s media and communication manager Jalal Younus told the media on Monday as per The Business Standard. 

And, here, just in the span of a long-forward message on a family group, I have indeed presented you facts that could just prove its point itself. The BCCI is much more than villainous, they are superheroes without a cape. 

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