Indian cricketers could form a union

Indian cricketers might form a player's association with support from an English body that is keen to see a "thriving" union in every cricket-playing nation.

"If our experience is beneficial to the Indian players, it will be fantastic," Tim O'Gorman, director of the Britain-based Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA). Such an association would enable players to fight for their rights.

"It was always felt that some of the issues of the players are overlooked by the administrators," said O'Gorman, a former Derbyshire batsman and currently a practising lawyer.

He said the PCA would do its best to help form national associations in various countries. "We have specimen documents that people can use as a draft constitution."

O'Gorman said a draft had been provided to Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly as also to Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble when they played county cricket in England last year.

"As far as I know they have received the documentation," O'Gorman said. "If they do not have it, it is very, very easy for us to provide it to them. All they need to do is to get in touch with (PCA director) David Graveney or (managing director) Richard Bevan to get the information that is ready and waiting for them."

According to O'Gorman, Ganguly, Dravid and Kumble, by virtue of having played county cricket, are among the 411 members of the 34-year-old PCA that is involved in various beneficial projects for the players.

There are a number of ways the PCA helps its members. This includes arranging for insurance and medical facilities, education, security, working out playing regulations and the matters arising out of the changing laws of the game. "We provide practical assistance to practical problems," O'Gorman said.

One of the priorities of the PCA is the attractive pension scheme that was launched in 1996.

"Pension is one of the best things we have ever done. It starts at 40, but you have the option to delay it, like I have done. Through the pension scheme, we also help families of the players like former England wicketkeeper David Bairstow who committed suicide," he said.

O'Gorman got involved with the PCA after he was moved to see former West Indian fast bowler Winston Davis, against whom he scored his maiden first-class century, confined to a wheelchair following an accident.

If O'Gorman has his way, the Federation of International Cricketers' Association, the only body of its kind, will become a truly effective voice. "We would love to see a thriving association of players that, through FICA, can make representations to the International Cricket Council," he said.

FICA representatives have attended ICC meetings, but the world governing body has refused to recognize the body, primarily because it does not represent all the Test-playing nations including India.

He said the FICA already has the support of the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) and a similar body in the West Indies. "Associations in South Africa and New Zealand are developing, while there is a lot of interest in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and a little bit in Pakistan."

FICA chief executive Graveney, who is also the chairman of England selectors, aims to "establish player representatives" in these countries.

Majid Khan, a former Pakistan captain, is one of the vice-presidents of FICA, there no Indian is involved with the body. Still, three legendary Indian players - Bishan Singh Bedi, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev - are amongst its 50-member Hall of Fame.

"What we would really like is to get the Indian players on board as well, so that there are times when FICA can help them," said O'Gorman. "Any help, any advice that any player from India would want will be very welcome to get it."

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--Indo-Asian News Service

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