Election of Kevin Pietersen as Speaker for Pataudi Memorial Lecture, Leaves BCCI and CoA at Loggerheads Again

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and members of Committee of Administrators (CoA), renowned for their differences in opinions, are at dispute yet again.

This time, it is due to the election of Kevin Pietersen as the speaker for the Pataudi Memorial Lecture. The event is scheduled to be held at Bengaluru next month.

It is learnt that BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary grilled CoA’s decision to appoint Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara as the speaker for the event.

While CoA chief, Vinod Rai prescribed a former Indian cricketer playing alongside Pataudi as the suitable speaker, in case of Sanga’s unavailability. However, Rai went on to appoint Englishman Kevin Pietersen as the speaker, leaving Vinod Rai fuming.

According to the scathing letter penned down by Choudhary to Rai, the acting Secretary questioned whether it was memorial for Pataudi or the likes of Hutton or Wooley.

“The expression of happiness on it had left me wondering whether the Memorial Lecture was indeed MAK Pataudi Memorial Lecture or Sir Len Hutton Lecture or for that matter Sir Frank Woolley lecture,” Choudhary expressed in the letter to Rai, according to News18.

Further, the acting secretary recalled that some Indian names were suggested by CoA earlier.

“During our discussion, I mentioned the names of some living Indian stalwarts who could also be considered. He too offered some names but I requested him to first check on the names I had suggested,” continued Choudhary.

Also Read: IPL 2018: Danielle Wyatt Terms AB de Villiers’ Gravity Defying Catch as ‘Unreal Scenes.’

Cricketers of the past are a disappearing species: Choudhary

According to the BCCI lynchpin, the memorial event is no ‘elocution’ contest with the need of speakers from overseas.

But, it is meant to signify the changes in the modern game, when compared to the years gone by.

“As I understand Tiger Memorial Lecture is not an elocution contest. Reasonable communication skills are all that we should look for. It is meant to bring to the fore the evolution of the game, what it meant to play for the country in the old days, the hardships of the time, challenges of the future and the like,” adds the BCCI acting secretary.

Also Read: Doing Away With Toss in Test Cricket Not Sensible, Says Bishan Singh Bedi

Amitabh Choudhary then backed his statements by claiming the present cricketers would always have a chance, appearing into the limelight.

But, the cricketers from the past are more of a ‘disappearing species’.

“Once every few years an iconic cricketer of yore should find a place as the keynote speaker in the memorial lecture. Besides, the present heroes could always come in later. As renowned cricketers of the past are a disappearing species,” concluded the acting secretary of BCCI.