Remembering the recently-deceased former BCCI president, who once said, “The media makes cricket so great. You have to reach them. They shouldn’t reach you”

The late Inderjit Singh Bindra was a dynamic BCCI administrator. Pic/mid-day archives

In an age where communication between the Indian cricket body and the media has become increasingly important, there is in fact far less interaction as compared to earlier eras when the cricket canvas was not as wide and colourful.

How many times has current BCCI chief Mithun Manhas placed himself in front of the media? Ditto Roger Binny, his predecessor. These, I’m sure, are not always individual choices, but reflect the approach of the Board who are uncomfortable in revealing what lies behind their decorated cloak.

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra, who passed away in New Delhi on Sunday at the age of 84, was one BCCI functionary who truly believed that the media is an important arm of the game.

Bindra, along with NKP Salve and Jagmohan Dalmiya, were the all-time greats of Indian cricket administration because they proved to the world that India are as capable, if not better, of hosting big-ticket events. Imran Khan was not one to dish out plaudits easily, but he had no hesitation in saying that the 1987 World Cup co-hosted by India and Pakistan was the best organised of all World Cups he was part of.

I’m not sure how many points Salve scored when it came to dealing with the fourth estate,........

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