Friends Can Prepare the Best Pitch For Cricket in Goa

Chetan Desai (right) and Vinod Phadke (Left) setting the pitch for cricket in Goa

For many years, cricket in Goa was sort of taken to the cleaners when the dirt hardly merited much attention.  Tickets were oversold in one match –the India v/s Australia one day international at Fatorda stadium, - daggers were drawn and individuals were thrown on an imaginary sacrificial altar.Some people made money, the wrong way. But, no one was physically  injured or hurt .

Thus, came into existence the Pendse Committee. Probably, more money was spent on the Pendse Committee then the money earned by the accused in the ticket gate scam. After all, if Dayanand Narvekar and committee did make money, how much?  And, was it worth the effort? Or was it a whim of fancy that was used to plough political mileage? Did Narvekar need that sort of money?

Dayanand  Narvekar quit cricket. But, before doing so, he left it in wise hands. One hand knew the way to get turn out of the ball; the other knew to nurture talent. The spotlight shifted on in many ways on Vinod Phadke and Chetan Desai. The president and secretary started with a strategic plan focussing on the game and the clubs who sow the seeds.

Vinod Phadke played good cricket before he got into administration. He started as an off spinner in Mapusa High School and was the first team captain of St Xaviers College  from the science stream. Work compulsions did not allow him to don the Ranji gloves .

Vinod joined the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) as member in 1994 when Dattaraj  Salgaocar was its president. From then on, the rise was steady until he was elected president in 2012. That was the time when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was sharing  crores it had earned for the game  with all its affiliates. Those who saw the glint of the money and knew they could not jump the fence to gobble the pie started using short cuts- crude ones. For many – especially the wicked- Pendse became a wand.

After the Pendse report , the matter was taken to court. It’s been going on for years and may even go on for another few more. At the moment, witnesses are deposing. Strangely, not once in the hearings so far, has the name Vinod Phadke been uttered. Yet, there have been people trying to get him involved.

The Pendse report has never stated that Vinod should not be allowed to stand for GCA elections. It recommended the government should not give grants or grounds  for cricket  if  those thought to be involved  were   in the GCA. The GCA has never gone to the government for grants or grounds. The report never stated that those indicted could not contest in a GCA election.

The imbroglio in cricket in Goa actually started when Vinod went on leave and handed over charge  of acting president to Shekar  Salkar.  In a way, that was the biggest fraud on cricket in Goa. By giving the ropes to Salkar –“ to see whether he would manage well”- was the time when the ball started turning away from the game.  Cricket started getting crumpled. Fortunately, it was just for six months. Yet, the toll was heavy.

 “Since he was trying to make a mess, I decided to give him a chance to see what he could do for the good of cricket. He has not only shown me but the entire cricket fraternity his colours. I never expected this mess,” said Vinod in a chat once.

*In six months, GCA took a loan of three crores and its property was mortgaged.

*In six months, the cricket academy that was doing good service to aspiring cricketers was closed.

*In six months, attempts were made to side-line the clubs- the lifeline of the association and the game in Goa.

*Close to six lakhs were spent to silence the clubs. Despite court orders that no money should be spent, lakhs were. The Executive Committee was a figure head.

It has been two months now that the new committee is in place. Chetan Desai – there couldn’t be anyone better than him now- is at the helm. Vinod Phadke is the general secretary. Roles have been reversed. But, when friends with good intention barter responsibilities, the ball bounces predictably.

Activity on the GCA pitch has taken centre stage once again. Preparations are already on for the Ranji ties ahead. With a coach in place, ex- test player Kanitkar is Goa’s new coach; the Goan boys have started on fitness and are bound to leave for training to Pune. The physios are working and so are the video analysts. In short, GCA has come back to cricketing days. Stupid boardroom manoeuvres have been consigned to the memories of the unworthy.

Two months is not enough to dig out the grime of six months. Yet, Chetan and his team are set to keep the shine on the ball. The academy will start again. An international stadium will be ready in a realistic place and in realistic time.

Goa will host an international cricket tie when the ground in Tivim is ready. This time though, the game will take centre stage, not the sale of tickets. This time, Vinod has even the BCCI behind him.