Bull's Eye

According to the draft, this is what’s on the cards: to kickstart the tourney, the Board of Control for Cricket in Amethi (BCCA) is to be set up pronto. And it will be ensured that young disgruntled party MPs are given ‘responsible’ positions on the board. The IB prediction is that politicos currently on the BCCI will switch allegiance to Rahul’s initiative since it will help them with tickets for the 2009 general elections. Incidentally, two men from the BCCI have already sent feelers. Another two have sent picture postcards from Australia to Rahulji.

With 1,200 teams in the fray, infrastructure is the buzzword now. Grounds have to be prepared for the ten-over-per-side game. (T-10 was chosen as the number is very special to the Congress.) Foreign coaches have already evinced keen interest. Fears that Greg Chappell, currently coaching in Jaipur, may move to the BCCA has led the Rajasthan board to put him under house arrest in a haveli. Much is also being made out of Kapil Dev’s recent statement—"Amethi da jawab nahin."

Naturally, Doordarshan will be providing live coverage. But the I&B ministry has also threatened to provide free feed to major sports channels. "Those who don’t telecast will have their licences reviewed," says an official. But who will watch the matches? Well, a grand strategy has been chalked out to make it an all-round experience for the fans. Some of the freebies on offer include paragliding lessons in Pune, spending a day with a Dalit family in Amethi and going cycling with Rahul.

Other political parties are said to be upset that the Congress has cornered "all the cricket". Not to be outdone, the BJP is said to be organising an All India F1 Rath Rally with Narain Karthikeyan and Michael Schumacher as consultants for the project. Always innovative, Chandrababu Naidu has decided to organise a golf tournament in Warangal district. "You hit, you walk, you hit. It’s so simple," says the TDP supremo. But that’s not cricket....