Dhoni hails IPL, refuses to comment on league's negative image
MS Dhoni on Monday shunned away questions regarding the negative image of the IPL, including plans on how to implement the recommendations of the Lodha committee, but credited the T20 league for giving plenty of domestic cricketers the opportunity to showcase their talent, IBN Live reports.
India’s limited overs skipper has been in a jubilant mood off late with success in the T20 format against Australia away and Sri Lanka at home and Monday was expected to be another enjoyable outing for the 34-year-old as he unveiled the jersey of his new IPL team the Rising Pune Supergiants. However, apart from the usual cricket related questions, Dhoni was subjected to a few tough questions, something which didn't thrill the normally cool skipper that much.
“Lodha Commission has not given me the report. So you have to ask the BCCI (about what they plan to do)," said a visibly upset Dhoni on Monday when asked about his views on the Lodha committee report.
While Dhoni conceded that a number of off-field incidents have given the IPL a bad image in some quarters, he urged the fans to look at the positive side of things as he feels the IPL has helped the Indian domestic cricketers develop their game and handle pressure situations from a very young age itself.
"Yes, it (IPL) has got its share of bad name but you have to look at the positives as well. It is a platform where you can identify the players on the domestic circuit, gauge their performance throughout the season. It is also about how the young players handle pressure, you see youngsters embracing it. I think that is fantastic for Indian cricket,” Dhoni said.
The former CSK skipper also added that the huge sums of money most of the prominent cricketers are making via the IPL shouldn’t be taken as a standard to assess how well the cricketers in the country were being paid.
"Yes, money is a big factor. People talk about cricketers getting a lot of money. Yes, a lot of cricketers are getting a lot of money but at the same time, thousands and thousands of them are not," he said.
Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka, who shared the dais with Dhoni, was not spared either but, like Dhoni, he also urged the reporters to look forward rather than talk about the wrongs of the past. Goenka also indicated that his association with the IPL might be a short term one.
“I am not going to comment on the past. We take it as it comes. We are not thinking beyond two years. An opportunity came to be associated with IPL for two years and we took it," said Goenka.
BCCI to hold Working Committee meeting prior to the Special General Meeting on February 19
In other news, the BCCI announced that the all-powerful Working Committee will hold a meeting just prior to the Special General Body Meeting, scheduled to be held on February 19. The SGM is expected to take decisions regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Supreme court-appointed Lodha committee panel but the latest twist has added to the speculations surrounding the decisive day.
The BCCI, however, stated that there was nothing odd about the development as the Working Committee meeting was as per its schedule.
"It's a regular meeting of the Working Committee, which is scheduled at 11:00 AM, to be followed by the SGM," IBN Live reported, citing sources in the BCCI.