BCCI acts like a cop - Kapil Dev...

Many years ago, at the tender age of fifteen, a young bowler took the mighty BCCI on, when at a training camp in Bombay's Brabourne Stadium, he was refused an extra chappati at dinner. In protest, the teen went on a hunger strike till they relented. The secretary at the time demanded to know who this impudent kid was. The proud answer: "I am a fast bowler." The officer disdainfully commented, "We haven't got any fast bowlers in India." That insult spurred
the boy on to become one of the finest fast bowlers to have played the game. Many years later, as Chairman of the ICL, Kapil Dev is
ready to take on the might of the BCCI all over again. And this will be a much tougher battle.
But a born fighter that he is, Paaji promises me
from inside his office in Delhi's Greater Kailash, he will demand and get his extra chappati all over again.

After all that you have achieved, must hurt to be called a rebel.

People from the new generation should understand what that word means before using it. It's a negative word. We are doing no wrong, we are only providing jobs and opportunities to people.

Some young journalists who use such words aren't qualified to be called journalists. What can I say if their IQ level is only that much.

Why did you join the ICL?

Let's first understand that apart from the players and the coach, a job at the BCCI is an honorary one, so was mine. I did not even take a daily allowance. I have always believed we must do jobs we love doing, for which we get paid. The larger picture is that the ICL will benefit the nation. Also, all my life I have stood up against injustice. The BCCI behaves like a policeman, they should behave like parents. You can't be a dictator in the name of democracy. The sportsman is not allowed to come up. In the finance ministry, we have a person who understands finance. The law minister is a person who understands law. But the sports minister is a person who never played sports!

	Kapil on BCCI
	If they aren't going to be thinking India, they should drop the world 'India' from BCCI.

So politicians should lay off sports...

In our system, you can't do without politicians. Things don't happen unless somebody moves things. So there should be a politician, there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is not even one per cent of these people are sportsmen, and one hundred per cent of them are politicians.

And Pawar is the supreme boss.

Yes, I am unhappy about that. The people who know the game should serve cricket.

There's too much money in the game for netas to keep away.

I think they like power.

I think it's money. Else they'd be looking after the Kabaddi or the Kho Kho Board.

Or the blind and the handicapped.

Exactly!

Everyone loves money, but they like to be in control.

Aren't you scared of taking on a powerful politician like Sharad Pawar? He's a mighty, astute politician.

If I have to fight with God, I will fight Him. (Laughs) If you are right, then why worry? Daraa hua insaan kabhi zindagi mein fateh nahin pa sakta.

Now he's pitched Sunil Gavaskar against you. That's a masterstroke.

They always use cricketers against each other, that's been our (players) weakness. But I want to see what Sunil says to the offer. If he is doing the job, I am happy, because cricket will benefit.

Don't you think Mr Pawar should be spending his energies on dealing with farmers' issues? He is minister for agriculture in the Union Ministry

Well then Pawar can ask what is Sidhu doing in politics?

	On Gavaskar
	Every time Sunil Gavaskar drew a Test match, it was a win for him. My approach was different, I wanted to play to win.

But Sidhu is a retired cricketer, and Pawar is a current Union Minister.

If he can handle a hundred things at one time, why should I stop him? Just as he has no right to ask me how I can do many things at one time. But the government has to look into this... if he can't handle his ministry, he will be chucked out.

How did you take the news of the sacking from the BCCI?

I want to see how far they are ready to go. If they can do it to me, other cricketers should understand that they are like cakes meant to be cut into many pieces. This is the way the BCCI works.