No Autographs, Please! BCCI's New Diktat Aimed to Check Corruption in Cricket

The gap between fans and their cricket superstars is all set to widen, at least in India. With an eye to keep cricket clean, the Board of Control for Cricket in India plans to forbid players from signing autographs during matches it organises. The Board believes the move will check the menace of bookies possibly passing on information on the field.

According to a report in a national daily, the BCCI is of the opinion that miscreants - mainly bookies and those involved in spot-fixing - can either pass on or obtain information in the guise of seeking autographs. (India Aim Record World Cup Win Against Ireland)

"We have asked cricketers not to give autographs while the match is on, during the IPL, Champions League T20 and all other BCCI-organised matches in India," KS Madhavan of BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit was quoted as saying. "This could be a method through which bookies may connect with cricketers. Through an autograph book, a bookie can exchange vital information with a player." (Dhoni's Favourite Kebab Corner in New Zealand)

Interestingly though, fans in India are anyway behind fenced enclosures in almost every stadium here. This is in contrast to venues abroad where supporters are quite close to the action.

In the ongoing World Cup for instance, several cricketers have been seen either interacting with their fans or obliging them with autographs - all while matches are under way.

BCCI's move will surely anger Indian supporters - known for their passionate cheer. The national cricketers are treated like demi-gods but their interactions with fans and media are extremely limited. In fact, the team's informal interaction with fans during the Test series Down Under was a pleasant albeit extremely rare instance of 'bonding.' (Mohit Sharma Wary of 'Slog Overs' Pressure)

During the course of the World Cup though, the same fans have been kept behind barricades with the occasional player 'donating' his autograph during training session. This is in contrast to how most international cricketers interact with their fans, at least during major tournaments when expectations are sky-high.

Such is the role played by fans in a team's success that India captain MS Dhoni had thanked them for his side's unbeatable form this World Cup. (Dhawan's Free-Style Batting Key: Ganguly)

"Playing in front of packed stadiums, even here in Australia, is absolutely great. I would like to thank all our fans for all the support," Dhoni had said after India defeated UAE in Perth.

Support is one thing but keeping cricket clean is quite another, at least according to BCCI. The Board would rather see blank autograph books than newspaper headlines screaming of yet another match-fixing scandal. And BCCI isn't quite alone in battling corruption.

Tackling the menace of malpractices has been the priority of the International Cricket Council in the ongoing World Cup. "I think the preparations the anti-corruption unit have put into this tournament, far exceed previous tournaments," ICC chief Dave Richardson had said days before the 11th edition of the tournament.

"They have a far better idea who these people are that travel the world and try to influence players, umpires and curators to get some sort of benefit on the betting side." None of the measures put into place though prohibits autograph seekers from their stars.

In India though, whether keeping fans away from players would prove to be an effective measure in fight against corruption, remains to be seen. Alienating sportspersons from those who made them heroes, many believe, could have a direct impact on the fun, frenzy and frolic that any game seeks to bask in.