New Delhi: Failure to drag capacity crowds in the recent ODI series against England and the ongoing Test series versus West Indies have raised concerns for the BCCI, said Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Rajiv Shukla.
Even the anticipation of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th international century failed to attract more than 10,000 spectators in the first two days of the ongoing second cricket Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
“Yes, it is a concern for BCCI that crowd turn out have been pretty low. Definitely, we have to think about alternative option. May be we have to now conduct Test matches at smaller centres in order to attract sizeable amount of people,” Shukla said on the sidelines of a function here.
Shukla said the matter would be taken up in the board’s next working committee meeting.
“It is a policy decision and definitely it will come up for discussion at BCCI’s next working committee meeting,” he said.
On BCCI’s response towards the Sports Bill, Shukla said, the board has already made its view clear although sportspersons from different spheres have been rallying about its implementation.
“We are not concerned about what other sportspersons think. We have made our point clear to the Sports Ministry. Our proposal is lying with them. We are not at war with the ministry. We have some reservations about the bill which we have made clear to them,” he said.
Shukla also said the Country versus Club debate should not be raised for the IPL, which according to him provides a good platform to youngsters.
The function was attended by a host of former as well as present India cricketers like Murali Vijay, Abhinav Mukund, Murali Karthik, Dinesh Karthik besides Chopra’s Ranji Trophy side, Rajasthan teammates. (UNI)
