Windfall in store for Kapil’s Devils
Seems like BCCI has finally put the tussle over ICL behind it, at least when it comes to the facilitation of the 1983 World Cup winning heroes. A windfall is in store for the Kapil’s Devils. The entire squad is to be showered with cash awards during the two felicitation functions — to be organised in New Delhi and London, commemorating its 25th year.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will bestow Kapil Dev’s men with Rs 25 lakh each. According to BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, the players will be handed over the cheques at the felicitation function in New Delhi on June 22. The BCCI, was, initially, reluctant to honour the World Cup heroes, one of the reasons being Kapil Dev’s involvement with the Indian Cricket League. But, apparently, after intense media pressure, the board has decided to felicitate the 15 members of the squad.
Meanwhile, there is more reward on the way for the World Cup-winning team. The UB Group, which is sponsoring Sunil Gavaskar’s PMG-organised felicitation function in London on June 25, will auction a diamond-encrusted bat. The amount will be distributed equally among the 14 members and the manager of the squad. A Mumbai-based jewelery shop will be sponsoring the diamonds to be encrusted on the bat, which will have the autographs of all the members of that team. The organisers of the London event have hired a professional auction company which will suggest the best way to do the auctioning. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that none of the Board members are expected to be present at the London event although some of them have received invitations Gavaskar. At least a couple of Board officials have told this paper that they would not be going to London. “I’ve received an invite from Sunil but I will not be able to go,” Rajiv Shukla, a board vice-president said. “I’m not going,” said Niranjan Shah. Both Shah and Shukla said they are not aware of anyone from the Board going for the function, which will be held in the Long Room of the Lord’s Cricket Ground.