Meticulous Planning and Execution by BCCI
Rajat Subhra Chatterjee 0014
The plan was placed before ICC and the response was furious. It was an open war. ICC and England raised objection to India’s bid from all angles, stating, it was too large a country and flying from one place to another was difficult. India did not have many five star hotels to accommodate so many. It was not that Salve did not expect that kind of response from England. But that was the game plan, only to place the proposal. What was hidden in the plan was not really looked into by England then.
There was a bait. And that bait was to lure Australia. Simply – divide and rule policy was adapted in the plan scripted by Dalmiya. The plan had included a rotation policy, meaning that after India, it would be the turn of Australia to host. And subsequently, to another country by bidding. Australia was spoken to in private. That clicked. Australia suddenly realised their chance not only to host the World Cup in Australia but also make a chunk of money in the bargain. Australia was so happy that they even assured Salve verbally that they would not veto but would vote for India in a closed ballot. With that assurance, Salve quickly formed a Joint Committee – India Pakistan Joint Management Committee ( IPJMC) to drive home his seriousness.
All concerned involved in the new game plan of BCCI saw their own interests in it. Noor Khan proposed Salve as the President of this Committee and then they went for the ICC voting system. ICC had total 37 votes – 2 each from 8 Test playing nations i.e. 16 and one vote each from 21 Associates. Here again IPJMC made a brave move by taking aside the minor countries into its confidence. England as organisers of the World Cup used to distribute 60% of the ICC Funding to eight Test playing nations while rest 40% of the ICC funding was being shared by 21 Associates. Noor Khan and Salve went to the Associates and promised to offer them four times more than what England was paying as guarantee money. That means it would be £20000 instead of £5000. While for the Test playing nations the offer was £75000 which was also five times more than what England was offering. It was huge benefit enhancement for all. Stage was set for the voting. And as was expected the result was 16-12 in favour of IPJMC. Yet England officials, sitting on the highest chairs resorted to some ugly and unacceptable methodologies to cancel the voting and forced for a re-poll. Yet the margin was not altered. The defeat was palpable and had to be accepted.
All these monetary promises made by Salve had in fact no solid back up at all as BCCI was then having no fund neither they had enough rapport with business houses to ask for funding. Yet promises were made for all upfront payment. Situation in Pakistan was even worse. Salve knew that whatever was to be done it would be by him and India. Pakistan was taken simply to strengthen the support.
England however was not deterred. They continued with pressure tactics raising the question of participation of South African Origin cricketers. It was then the political acumen of Salve that put a seal to this problem. Salve assured that the ban would stay but that would come into effect after one year of the World Cup. England raised the objection of playing 60 overs matches due to poor light condition. Salve proposed and got through with 50 overs a match situation. This also led the Benson & Hedges mini World Cup in 1985 in Australia – a 50 overs game tournament. They raised objection to poor Telecasting system to which Salve promised to completely re-galvanize the whole system. Regarding travelling of teams, Salve assured that Indian Airlines would re-schedule all flights to playing centers as per WC schedule. England as a last resort, even raised that they can not participate because of tension between India and Pakistan. It was tricky. It was volatile subject. Salve calmly put his close friend IS Bindra, Secretary of IPJMC on this job and he was handy. Bindra requested the Pakistan Dictator Zia ul Haq to come over to India to show solidarity. Zia asked back if Indian Prime Minister would invite him. To this Bindra said , it did not matter. You just come. And Zia obliged. ICC and England saw the new political alliance between India and Pakistan which was made possible only for the sake of World Cup and naturally they were shaken a bit. The tension between the two countries disappeared for the next one year.
Acknowledgement : ‘ The Story of the Reliance Cup ’ by Mr. N K P Salve.
Image : Courtesy : Internet
