The Inderjit Singh Bindra Chat
Inderjit Singh Bindra, president of the Punjab Cricket Association and former president of the BCCI, was at his fiery best while on The Rediff Chat. In wake of the match-fixing scandal, he called for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into allegations against Indian players. He lashed out at the BCCI, saying the need of the hour is disciplining members of the BCCI. "Once they set an example, players will automatically get disciplined," he declared. Indeed, the man who is known to speak out against what he perceives as the ills plaguing Indian cricket did not hold his punches.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 6:52 IST)
Good Evening, I am here to take your questions!
Shah (Sat Apr 15 2:56 IST)
Hi everyone, Mr Bindra do you think Indian players are involved in match fixing? Secondly what is your opinion of Prabhakars statements?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 6:55 IST)
Shah: There are a number of allegations regarding the involvement of cricket players from across the world including some Indian players. It would be an independent investigation by a statutory authority like police or CBI of a concerned country which could really sift out the truth and either clear the name of people allegedly involved or prove their guilt as has been done by the Delhi police as in the case of Hansie. Therefore, there is an imminent need of similar enquiries in all such cases.
Jaidev (Sat Apr 15 2:58 IST)
Can you give us a picture of the kind of cover-up going on by the Indian Cricker board? Do you think the Chandrachud report is a sham?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 6:58 IST)
Jaidev: The initial reaction by the chief executive of the board calling Delhi police investigation "rubbish and nonsense" was totally uncalled for. It is these kind of reactions which create doubts in public minds about the bona fides or otherwise of the concerned boards. Reaction of South African Board or Australian board was similar to Mr Lele's. As regards Mr Chandrachud's enquiry, he did not have any powers of investigation, as such he was not equipped to deal with such a matter.
ratnam (Sat Apr 15 3:49 IST)
why indians playing too much of one day rather than test? why india cannot produce fast bowler like pakistan?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:1 IST)
ratnam: One-dayers bring as much money in a day as three test matches do in 15 days! That perhaps is the reason why the board is going in for more one-dayers keeping in mind purely the commercial considerations and not the overall interests of cricket. ONE reason why India can't produce fast bowlers like Pakistan is perhaps on account of lack of stamina and major reason for that is Pakistanis eat a lot of beef and without exception are total non-vegetarians. The racial characteristics of northwest region perhaps is another factor.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 6:49 IST)
Betting is a crime against the state, and a participating in it is a non-cricekting offense, unless there is evidence that the match was fixed. What can the Board and ICC do about it, unless there is evidence as such?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:4 IST)
spectator: in such cases, only an independent investigation by police could establish the bona fides or otherwise of such allegations. The concerned boards therefore should refer such allegations which have prima facie evidence of malpractises to investigating agencies.
anamika (Sat Apr 15 6:57 IST)
i think the entire BCCI should be bought within the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act.That way they will beaccountable.What do you say Sir?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:6 IST)
anamika: We can't tarnish the entire ICC with the same brush. But a few black sheep here and there tarnish the name of the game and affects its pristine image and traditional glory.
RAAJ JOSHI (Sat Apr 15 6:54 IST)
mr.bindra u were a well respected official, till u fell in the bad books of your colleagues. what was the reason? over-ambition or ego ?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:8 IST)
raaj joshi: I fell out with my colleagues and friends of more than two decades on the basis of certain vital and fundamental differences regarding administration of the game in the country as well as globally. The main reason was privatisation of Indian cricket in the garb of globalisation.
johnguitar (Sat Apr 15 7:6 IST)
Bindra saab, do you really believe that the cricket administrators in India, considering that they know the ins and outs of the game, would be ignorant about the national suqad players' dabbling in beeting and mathc-fixing ?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:9 IST)
johnguitar: Whenever and wherever there is match fixing, it is not possible without direct or indirect involvement or indifference on the part of administrators of the game.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 7:8 IST)
What is your comment about Australian Borad's handling of Warne case? And what could ICC do, within it's charter?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:11 IST)
spectator: Australian reaction in case of Shane Warne was as lopsided as the initial reaction of Indian and South African boards when Hansie episode was disclosed by the Delhi police. It is such like actions or indifference to public sentiments which has resulted in this problem becoming a major malaise and a cancerous growth in the international cricket.
Mohinder (Sat Apr 15 7:11 IST)
Bindrasaab, I have a theory. And that theory is that the murky links of the betting scandal extend right up to the very top, not just of the BCCI but of the ICC as well. That is why nothing has ever been done about this problem and nothing ever will. Hansie Cronje will just be a scapegoat, and maybe a couple of other players will be sacrificed. That is all. The dada at the top will not be touched. What's your opinion?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:12 IST)
Mohinder: I have already publicly proclaimed that Hansie is a small fish and big sharks and the real mafia is still to be unmasked.
lele (Sat Apr 15 7:12 IST)
Bindraji if you were the president of the board now, what would you do to discipline players.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:14 IST)
lele: I would first discipline the Board members and once they set an example, players will automatically get disciplined!
srinivas (Sat Apr 15 7:13 IST)
During the recent looses by indians in australia, at home and at sharjah there might be a match fixing or due to the over playing of the cricket
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:17 IST)
srinivas: Chances of match fixing and other malpractises are more in cricket being played in offshore countries which are not full members of ICC because in such cases, the own team is not involved the factor of "national prestige and honour" is missing. Therefore, cricket in places like Sharjah, Toronto, Dhaka, Singapore, etc has more probability of their being malpractises compared to matches being played say between India and Australia either in India or Australia when the players are motivated by considerations of national honour.
ven hari (Sat Apr 15 7:17 IST)
Mr. Bindra: You have alleged that the BCCI knew about betting by some Indian players. If so why not name them? The BCCI threatened to sue Prabhakar, how come they did not. Is it because they know that Prabhakar is right?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:19 IST)
ven hari: I am quite willing to the officials and the players if the government agrees to a probe by an independent agency like police or a commission of inquiry with statory powers.
anamika (Sat Apr 15 7:17 IST)
Mr. Bindra don't you think it is disgraceful that high officials bring personal rivalry incase of allotment of matches to various cricket stadiums.This results in good stadiums being ignored (for matches).
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:21 IST)
anamika: BCCI for years had a streamlined system for allotment of matches. For last couple of years, allotment is being used as weapon for winning votes of member associations or punishing associations which do not tow the line of the establishment. This indeed is a reprehensible phenomena.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 7:22 IST)
Given the soft handed-ness of current officials, what is your view about the step taken by Mr. B. N. Dutt regarding the controversial Masala-match tour?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:22 IST)
spectator: please clarify your question on B N Dutt's action on masala tours.
lele (Sat Apr 15 7:21 IST)
You could not when you were president, now how can you. You were the one who encouraged groupism amongst officials.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:24 IST)
lele: Once I was elected president of BCCI at Gwalior for three years till I handed over I carried the entire board with me and no association can accuse me of partisan behaviour once the first election was over in 1993.
John Dayal (Sat Apr 15 7:23 IST)
Mr Bindra, you are trying to fix Mr Jagmohan dalmiya on the present controversy. Why ? Would you care to explain ?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:25 IST)
John Dayal: I am not trying to fix any individual. In fact my effort is to fix international cricket and restore it back to its original health and glorious traditions.
miao (Sat Apr 15 7:22 IST)
Who will bell the cat called Jagmohan Dalmiya, Mr Bindra? Do you have it in you? You are cricket's only hope now, even though you were the man who first brought Dalmiya into prominence.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:27 IST)
miao: My fight is not against any individual and there is nothing personal about it. I am fighting for certain principles and in this fight individuals don't matter, howsover big they may be.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 7:28 IST)
Mr. Bindra, when Gavaskar et al., went to play Masala matches in America, defying Board regulation, Mr. B.N.Dutt (then President) suspended the whole team. This is a huge event in Indian Cricket administration, till date. Given the soft handed-ness of current officials, what is your view about the step taken by Mr. B. N. Dutt regarding the controversial Masala-match tour?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:30 IST)
spectator: Thank you for clarifying your question. It is indeed an excellent question. Mr Dutt took a firm action but unfortunately Board had to compromise because of great respect it has for judiciary and judicial institutions. Unfortunately, masala matches have been given an official patronage by the Board now. What else being termed as "globalisation" is nothing but giving a new name to what used to be called masala matches.
Gurbachan (Sat Apr 15 7:28 IST)
The Mumbai cricketing community has it that you know the names of at least three Indian cricketers who have taken money for match-fixing. If this is so, why don't you come out with their names, you would be doing yeoman's service to our country.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:31 IST)
Gurbachan: I have replied to the questions about names of officials and cricketers when I said that an independent investigation should be ordered by the government and I will provide all the information I privy to.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 7:31 IST)
Thank you Mr. Bindra. What exactly can ICC do now, apart from involving statutory bodies of respective countries? What is it's charter regarding non-cricketing offenses?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:34 IST)
spectator: ICC has to step in with a hammer in its hand once independent investigation agencies establish that match fixing or other connected malpractises have taken place. IN all such cases, players and administrators should be banned for life and their records in case of players wiped out from the cricket statistics and the administrators should be banned from holding any elective office in any board or cricket organisation at any level for life!
preity (Sat Apr 15 7:33 IST)
Can you tell us, Bindraji, what is your opinion on Dalmiya's plan to 'globalise' cricket? Dalmiya seems to think the globe is restricted to Dacca.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:35 IST)
preity: I have already given my opinion about globalisation and same holds true in case of Dhaka too. All these matches are no better than "masala matches".
Don Quixote (Sat Apr 15 7:35 IST)
Mr Bindra: Not to be rude, but instead of talking about what *needs* to be done, why don't we practically address what *will* be? The BCCI has swept everything under the carpet for so long, why should any of us think things will change now?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:37 IST)
Don Quixote: When we have enlightened public opinion, which is indicated by your question, and administrators are forced to be transparent in their dealings by the public at large, the things are bound to improve. Public should get organised under a banner for cleansing international cricket.
spectator (Sat Apr 15 7:35 IST)
MR. Bindra, thank you for your comments. Do you think it is tine for all honest individuals involved with Cricket to come forward,and help stem the rot? Also, shouldn't they play a part in controlling the ruckus created by Media?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:38 IST)
spectator: I totally endorse your suggestion. All cricket administrators who have the good of cricket at heart should come out and not worry about damaging the game by their disclosures. If we do worry about damage, we'll end up destroying the game of cricket.
Eddie van Halen (Sat Apr 15 7:37 IST)
Good evening sir, at least you are being honoest in your replies. I too have a query, that is, will the Indian investigations in this scandal yield positive results or will they go the pakistani way, a la Malik Mohammed Qayuum's report with no action taken and the three " guilty" pakistani stars being restored in the national squad ?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:41 IST)
Eddie van Helen: The methodical manner in which Delhi police has conducted the investigation and exposed the culprits, inspires confidence in me. I have no doubt if they are allowed to carry investigation to a logical conclusion and all cricket boards provide them total support this malaise will be exposed and the mafia operating behind the scenes will be unmasked. Best of luck to Delhi police, they deserve best wishes and congratulations of all those who love this game.
Don Quixote (Sat Apr 15 7:40 IST)
Mr. Bindra: If you're allowed to answer this. The bit about 3 senior cricketers who had to be warned during your tenure. Is that true? The present board officials have denied it.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:43 IST)
Don Quixote: It is true though their misdemeanour did not tantamount to the present level of "crime against cricket". I haven't come across any denial by any board official so far.
miao (Sat Apr 15 7:43 IST)
Will you be returning to the board as president, Mr Bindra? Or is the Dalmiya lobby too strong?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:45 IST)
miao: I have publicly announced that I will not hold any office in the BCCI because I feel after being a president once, one should play the role of only a senior statesman. I have been condemning over the years all the administrators who after being BCCI president have held other offices in the Board and have not ceased to interfere in the day to day working of the Board.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:46 IST)
Spectators AND ALL OTHERS: Anyone who has some information/doubt or question could reach me at the PCA. Our email is
marco (Sat Apr 15 7:50 IST)
Bindraji r u there, a meeting has been called by the union sports minister,what do u think is expected to come out of this????
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:50 IST)
marco: The honourable union minister for sports has publicly announced that a meeting convened by the ministry on April 27 is to consider the problem of match fixing and other related matters. I have no doubt that if all those attending the meeting are earnest about finding a solution, a solution shall emerge and cricket will become stronger and more vibrant. I am not pessimistic at all. In spite of what is happening, cricket has a big future and will emerge victorious.
Don Quixote (Sat Apr 15 7:49 IST)
Mr. Bindra: This attitude of yours puzzles me a little. You claim that the 3 players back then were not involved "to the extents that some are now". Is there a certain degree of malfeasance required before we ought to be punishing these guys who play with the Indian public? Should not *any* wrongdoing be met with the maximum possible sentence?
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:52 IST)
Don Quixote: Placing bets in a country where betting is legal on non-India matches, the extent malfeasance is apparently almost minimal compared to match fixing and betting on matches by the players in which they are playing.
Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra (Sat Apr 15 7:53 IST)
TO EVERYONE: Thanks for your constructive questions. We do hope we have your support and well wishes to deal with the menace. God willing we will meet again for another chat. Or you could get in touch with me on the PCA email: Thanks and Good night!
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