Asia Cup 2018: Virat Kohli's absence irks broadcaster; BCCI says team selection remains board's call

[Abdullah719]

New Delhi: Indian captain Virat Kohli's absence from Asia Cup has got BCCI into a head on collision with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after broadcasters Star expressed their displeasure.

The BCCI, however, in a tersely worded reply to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has made it clear that neither them or broadcasters have any say in national team selection matters.

Kohli, arguably the biggest draw in world cricket, was rested after an 84-day tour of England where he emerged as top run getter with 593 runs in five Tests.

In an email to ACC Game Development Manager Thusith Perera, the host broadcaster expressed their displeasure, stating how Kohli's absence will impact the financial aspect of the coverage.

"In our view, the announcement of the absence of one of world's best batsmen from the Asia Cup, only 15 days before the commencement of the Asia Cup, is a severe dent to us (event broadcaster) and will severely impact our ability to monetise and generate revenue for the tournament," the email stated.

The broadcasters had asked ACC to get in touch with BCCI as they made it clear that since MRA (Media Rights Agreement) obligations required ACC to ensure best national teams are playing the Tournament.

However, BCCI made it clear that it's solely parent body's prerogative to choose their national team and no outside interference would be allowed.

"Please note that selection of best available team for participation in a tournament is sole prerogative of BCCI,'' BCCI CEO Rahul Johri replied to Perera.

"It is not open for ACC or its broadcaster to insist on selection of any particular player and/or to question the expertise of any selection committee as to which is the best available team for particular tournament,'' Johri further wrote.

https://www.firstpost.com/firstcric...am-selection-remains-boards-call-5195651.html

 

[cricketjoshila]

This is the condition of cricket. Dependent on a team and a player to get money. This isnt good.

Good reply by BCCI.

 

[MenInG]

This is the condition of cricket. Dependent on a team and a player to get money. This isnt good.

Good reply by BCCI.

I agree with BCCI

This is none of their business who India send.

 

[Hasan123]

I'm annoyed at Kohli not being selected but our fans and other people need to understand that Kohli needs rest and that the Asia Cup just isn't a big deal for India.

 

[Slim]

Good reply from BCCI if the news is actually true because Indian media is known for lying. Just like they lied about BCCI writing a letter to ACC complaining about the schedule. That was obviously BCCI's attempt for domestic consumption to cover up their failure and is this another attempt of fake bravado? Who knows. I dont trust indian media at all, champions of fake news.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Good reply from BCCI if the news is actually true because Indian media is known for lying. Just like they lied about BCCI writing a letter to ACC complaining about the schedule. That was obviously BCCI's attempt for domestic consumption to cover up their failure and is this another attempt of fake bravado? Who knows. I dont trust indian media at all, champions of fake news.

What failure?

Bcci prevailed over ACC so that indian team plays all its matches in Dubai. They will not travel to abudhabi at all no matter where they finish in the group.

 

[Slim]

What failure?

Bcci prevailed over ACC so that indian team plays all its matches in Dubai. They will not travel to abudhabi at all no matter where they finish in the group.

Failure because you cannot stop ACC from scheduling back to back matches even though all of your media and public was up in arms.

But i trust you to somehow make playing matches in Dubai as some sort of a success. You should work in PR.

 

[Slim]

A source inside BCCI, on the condition of anonymity, accepted that the change was opted by India but the reason behind the switch was nothing other than maximisation of ticket sales.

“It is a BCCI tournament and we have the right to ensure we get the most out of it. The capacity of the Dubai stadium is approximately 55,000 — way more than Abu Dhabi. We are expecting at least 35,000 for India matches if not full house like the one for India vs Pakistan match. There is no other hidden agenda for the change,” he said.

LOL so from the article above from Gulf Times, this so called success is bascially 20,000 more ticket sales.

I didnt know the host deciding where they want to play their matches would be counted as a success. Only in joshila's mind.

 

[Pete Rose]

Sounds a bit difficult to believe that the broadcaster is whining about a team that already has some of biggest names in cricket playing this tournament

 

[Slim]

Sounds a bit difficult to believe that the broadcaster is whining about a team that already has some of biggest names in cricket playing this tournament

Its fake news by indian media as usual.

 

[Sam99]

Can't be fake as most of the indian series/tournament these days are covered by Ten/Sony so this was time for them to make more money but they don't have kohli the brand to advertise.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Failure because you cannot stop ACC from scheduling back to back matches even though all of your media and public was up in arms.

But i trust you to somehow make playing matches in Dubai as some sort of a success. You should work in PR.

The schedule said team coming 2nd travels to Abudhabi. India said no and wont travel to abudhabi. They will stay in dubai and play all matches in Dubai, to do so they will play back to back games.

Thats called give and take. Happens all the time in business parleys.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Its fake news by indian media as usual.

Why dont you post a credible news source which says differently?

 

[cricketindiafan]

Its fake news by indian media as usual.

News article quoting formal communication with officials named is fake news?

On topic, good to see Rahul Johri for once standing up for the team. Otherwise he has been a puppet of CoA and has destroyed our bargaining power at ICC by being totally subservient to Shashank Manohar.

 

[Slim]

Why dont you post a credible news source which says differently?

Why would a news article be published from a credible source to defy fake news from indian media? Newspapers exist to report on stuff, not to publish articles defying fake news. Use common sense.

 

[ads101]

If you were in the broadcaster's position you'd get annoyed too. Injury can't be helped, it's unfortunate. But here a player is choosing to skip, and wasn't forseen. Probably goes months back in planning and organising. People say it isn't a big event, but I'm pretty sure it will get bigger viewing numbers than the England vs India test series. And we all know particularly in India, Limited Overs brings in more money than tests.

No other team in the asia cup is fielding less than a full strength side. And there's no given India will win this even with Kohli in the side, given the fact they lost the last tournament they were in to the almost identical Pakistani side.

The broadcaster is right. If Kohli indeed "needed rest", 15 days before the start of the Asia Cup was not the time to say that information. The broadcaster may have been able to adjust advertising, adjust expenditure and planning accommodating the fact Kohli wasn't playing.

Not to mention that West Indies are touring India a bit after Asia Cup where Kohli could easily be rested as India are huge favourites here with or without Kohli.

 

[Balthazar]

Just goes to show the true power of Virat Kohli. No wonder Pakistan fans have been irked by his absence. BCCI should've rested some more key players.

 

[cricketindiafan]

If you were in the broadcaster's position you'd get annoyed too. Injury can't be helped, it's unfortunate. But here a player is choosing to skip, and wasn't forseen. Probably goes months back in planning and organising. People say it isn't a big event, but I'm pretty sure it will get bigger viewing numbers than the England vs India test series. And we all know particularly in India, Limited Overs brings in more money than tests.

No other team in the asia cup is fielding less than a full strength side. And there's no given India will win this even with Kohli in the side, given the fact they lost the last tournament they were in to the almost identical Pakistani side.

The broadcaster is right. If Kohli indeed "needed rest", 15 days before the start of the Asia Cup was not the time to say that information. The broadcaster may have been able to adjust advertising, adjust expenditure and planning accommodating the fact Kohli wasn't playing.

Not to mention that West Indies are touring India a bit after Asia Cup where Kohli could easily be rested as India are huge favourites here with or without Kohli.

If the broadcaster wanted such guarantees, should it not have looked at the schedule of the tournament? Why did they agree to have a tournament which began not even a week after the England tour, schedule of which was known from last year?

They are lucky it's just Kohli being rested, there was every chance of Indian fielding a team like we did in Nidhas Trophy. I am sure that is what we would have gone for if our performance in England tour was better.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Why would a news article be published from a credible source to defy fake news from indian media? Newspapers exist to report on stuff, not to publish articles defying fake news. Use common sense.

If names of officials are falsely used they deny such stories.