Binny and his team have a challenging journey to retain the Karnataka State Cricket Association's standing as one of the more vibrant cricketing units in the country.
Roger Binny (second from left)
Anything other than a landslide win for Roger Binny in the race to become the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) would have come as a massive shock. The former India all-rounder, who had twice previously served as the vice-president of the state body, is synonymous with integrity. Well-liked and respected across the spectrum, Binny’s off-field leadership skills will now have to express themselves as he and his team embark on a challenging journey to retain the KSCA’s standing as one of the more vibrant cricketing units in the country. The trust of the electorate manifested itself in the form of an impressive tally of 943 of the 1,069 votes polled as the 64-year-old Binny comfortably beat back the challenge of Capt MM Harish. As expected, Binny’s team was unstoppable at the hustings, making a clean sweep of the 12 seats for which elections were held. With this overwhelming mandate comes massive responsibility. In his first remarks after being elevated to a position held in the past by such luminaries as M Chinnaswamy, Dr K Thimmappiah and leg-spin legend Anil Kumble, Binny spoke about infrastructure development and the need to have a strong club culture. Karnataka has long been an excellent supply line to the national team, and it was perhaps fitting that Mayank Agarwal made a spectacular 215 against South Africa in the Visakhapatnam Test on the day of the polls. The new administration will be keen to keep that robust feeder system going, which will necessitate not just structural enhancement but also quality coaching and transparency when it comes to team selections at age-group and senior levels. In the lead-up to the elections, allegations of corruption had been levelled against certain decision-makers by the opposition Swatch Cricket group. While it might be tempting to sweep those charges under the carpet as the desperate claims of an aspiring set of office-bearers, it is imperative that whatever misgivings there might be are addressed and all potential roadblocks in the further blossoming of Karnataka cricket removed in an inclusive rather than iron-fisted manner. What is encouraging within the new set-up, with the overt backing and encouragement of former KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel, is the number of cricketers who have been elected to their respective posts. New vice-president J Abhiram and VS Thilak Naidu played first-class cricket with distinction, while Shantha Rangaswamy, the former India captain, has become the first woman to break into the Managing Committee. Rangaswamy’s inputs will be especially vital for Karnataka to make the most of the great interest generated by India Women’s impressive outings over the last two years on the global stage. The wealth of cricketing experience these names bring to complement Binny’s wisdom should augur well from a cricketing perspective, more so with former international umpire Shahvir Tarapore too in the mix. Administratively, support will come from first-time secretary Santosh Menon and treasurer Vinay Mruthyunjaya. With Binny as the glue that binds the group together and the driving force given his pedigree and his reputation, cricket in Karnataka should logically build on the gains of the past and aspire for a brighter future. In saying that, the first examination of Binny’s governance won’t be too long in coming. The recent arrest of Ali Asfak Thara, the owner of Belagavi Panthers, by the Central Crime Branch on charges of betting, and potential match-fixing, during Karnataka Premier League (KPL) 2019 has opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box. The franchise has since been suspended by the KSCA, but that can’t be an end in itself. While the KPL has unearthed talent from across the state, its sustainability within the existing framework will come under greater focus in light of the developments of the last few weeks. It might be true that there are only a few bad eggs, but in this era of perception, it is essential that the trust factor of the primary stakeholders is kept intact. Whether that means making minor but meaningful tweaks to the structure as it is, or going in for a wholesale overhaul while retaining the core identity of a tournament that has run for eight editions, is something Binny and his trusted band will have to decide. Maybe not immediately, but soon enough. Binny has captained his state on the park with dignity and poise. He will again have to lead from the front in a field – administration – where he has great experience, if not necessarily as the designated top man until now. Few men have come to office with such groundswell of support and goodwill. Binny has the same opportunity to make an impact on governance as he did at the 1983 World Cup, when his tournament-high 18 wickets was pivotal to Kapil Dev’s men going all the way.
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