DKS bats for politicians to be kept off cricket administration

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar argued that politicians should be kept out of cricket administration “to keep the game clean”. He added that former cricketers were better equipped for the job. He made the comments after releasing the autobiography of former India wicket keeper Syed Kirmani in Bengaluru on Sunday. “Politicians must be kept out of cricket.

Politicians are dangerous for sports and they must be kept away in my personal opinion. The game must be administered by cricket players themselves,” Shivakumar said.

‘Stumped’ by Kirmani- Syed Kirmani, whose autobiography was released is a celebrated 1983 Cricket World Cup winner. The Bengaluru- based former wicketkeeper-batter named his autobiography “Stumped”. “Kirmani is a good human being with a pure heart. I am not here as a Deputy Chief Minister but as a fan of Kirmani. He has made the state and the county proud. When I was in school, I was a fan of Chandrashekar, GR Vishwanth and Kirmani. When I was in school, I used to get tickets for the matches through a classmate, who was the son of KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) Secretary.

I used to write letters to KSCA for tickets and distributed them among my followers. It helped me become a leader of sorts then,” Shivakumar said. “There were hardly any training centres back then yet our cricketers have made the state and the country proud. Once we reach the top, good character is important to stay at the top. Kirmani is a great example of that,” he added.

Shivakumar pointed out that there were no politicians in the KSCA managing committee, recalling his own ties to the body. “I got the KSCA membership by paying Rs 2,000 long back. I have come here as a KSCA member and Kirmani fan. I am very happy that there are no politicians in the managing committee,” he said.

Former players' best bet? The argument that politicians shouldn’t contest elections for cricket bodies and leave it to former players is an old one. It is to be noted that elected representatives and even sitting ministers have held cricket associations in important states and even headed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is powerful at the international level. Money power and influence often allows politicos to land said posts. The argument against it is that former cricketers understand e game better.