(a) whether the Indian cricket team fared badly in the recently held overseas tours;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(
(c) whether political pressure was exerted in the matter of selection of players;
(d) if so, the steps proposed to be taken to depoliticise the selection process; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to improve the performance of our cricket team?
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
(SHRI SUKHDEV SINGH DHINDSA)
(a)&(b): The performance of Indian cricket team during its recent tour to Australia
was not satisfactory. Indian team lost both the test series and the triangular series of one-day matches.
(c ),(d) &(e): The promotion of the game of cricket in the country is the responsibility of the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) which is an autonomous organization. The Government has no role/ say in the selection of players which is exclusively done by BCCI through their constituted Selection Board. There are, at present, no statutory rules to regulate the functioning of the federations including BCCI. However, Government of India is in the process of formulating a new sports policy, under which the issue of appropriate functioning of sports federations and allied institutions is also proposed to be addressed.