I S Bindra's Wishlist

This makes Fascinating Reading....

Wow, never knew we had such visionaries among us. I.S.Bindra deserves a run for BCCI Presidency.

This is from the CRICINFO website, not sure whether they would have it forever and hence not mentioning the weblink outta here

Bindra's Wishlist:
One – Break out of the honorary system
The BCCI is run by honorary office bearers, who have day jobs that keep them busy, and Bindra would like to see it professionalised. "Set up a board of directors, hire full-time executives, led by a CEO, who are accountable, and the system will run beautifully."

"In a democracy," says Bindra, "you have to take the people along. And the state associations can be convinced. After all, it is in their benefit also. Once they see what they are gaining from it, they will surely agree."

Bindra's Wishlist: Two – The BCCI should start a TV Channel"India is the hub of world cricket," says Bindra, "and we should exploit that. Why sell the TV rights if we can exploit them ourselves? We should start a TV channel. And I have a blueprint for how it would run.

"First, we would show 100 days of international cricket in India. Let the world come here to play. Look at the American sports, they don't go out of the US to play baseball, so why do we have to go out all the time to play cricket?"

Bindra's Wishlist: Three – Promote domestic cricket
"It is not fair," says Bindra, "that international cricketers make so much money when domestic cricketers get just a lakh a year. Now, why has Sachin become such a star? It is because his face is seen on TV all the time. Before the days of television, great players did not make so much money. Television makes the difference, and that is why we need to promote domestic cricket, to get local cricketers on TV.

"I find it ridiculous that people in India watch US college basketball on TV – college basketball, mind you – and don't watch the Ranji Trophy final."

Bindra's Wishlist: Four – Start an international league
"We should start a league like the European soccer leagues," says Bindra. "Build it around cities or states, and a fierce local following will develop. Invite international players. With the audiences in India, it can reach the level of European soccer.

"It can be bigger than international cricket."

Bindra's Wishlist: Five – Get into merchandising
"Do you know that the BCCI hasn't even registered its logo?" says Bindra. He talks of how the Indian colours are valued so highly by fans, and how there is a massive black market in those. Foreign clubs, such as Manchester United, make huge amounts of money through merchandising, and Bindra is amazed that the BCCI is not taking advantage of such a revenue stream.

"They haven't even registered their logo," he repeats.

Bindra's Wishlist: Six – Make cricket a spectator sport in India
Isn't it already? Not quite. Indian grounds are notoriously spectator-unfriendly, and the PCA Stadium at Mohali, despite a name that doesn't slip easily off the tongue, is a magnificent exception. It is compassionately capitalistic: it takes outstanding care of its spectators; and it makes pots of money, despite having the cheapest seats around.

"Students should be able to come and watch the game without burning their pockets," says Bindra. "At Rs 60 for five days, we sell cheaper tickets than any other ground, and we provide the best facilities. We want them to come and enjoy themslves. Cricket should be like a carnival."

So how does the PCA make money, then? Well, for one, the hoarding around the perimeter of the ground sells for much more than at other grounds. He doesn't chase sponsors; they come to him and he uses his position of strength.

And two: corporate hospitality. In India, he points out that the most expensive tickets, priced at Rs10,000 or more, are the first to sell out. There is clearly a market here that isn't being tapped well enough by the BCCI, but at Mohali, Bindra exploits it to the hilt. It also allows him to sell the the cheapest seats so, well, cheaply.

Bindra's Wishlist: Seven – Beat Cricinfo
"The BCCI doesn't yet have a website," says Bindra, "but we [the PCA] have just started our website. It's early days yet, but we believe that it will do well, and maybe after a year, we'll do better than Cricinfo."