BCCI should rope in PR agency to boost image: Sunil Gavaskar

Ajinkya Rahane in action during the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India at The Gabba in Brisbane. Photo: AFP

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has hailed the efforts of the BCCI in taking Indian cricket to a level where it is right now.

Last week, India, under Ajinkya Rahane, clinched their second consecutive series win in Australia. They became the first side to beat Australia in a Brisbane Test since the West Indies in 1988-89.

"BCCI should think of hiring a PR agency to highlight all the good work it does at various levels so that the image will be a much more positive one than it usually is," wrote Gavaskar in his Sunday Mid-day column today.

He stressed: "The BCCI's role in nurturing and unearthing talent has been incredible. No other country has the kind of junior cricket events that Indian cricket has. There are various age group tournaments in different cities that throw up talent which then gets bound together as an Under-19 unit.

"Then they play the ‘A' tournaments with the ‘A' teams of other countries in those countries as well as at home. There is also the emerging players tournament which gives the players invaluable experience and the confidence to be ready for international challenges.

"Of course, not everybody succeeds. That's impossible in sport, but the fact that they are not overawed is entirely due to these programmes by the BCCI. This hardly gets spoken about even as individuals hired by BCCI get the credit."

Gavaskar also praised skipper Rahane's dignified ways. "Rahane's dignity shone through the series and was heartwarming indeed," he said.