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Lele, with his foot in his mouth

Jaywant Lele, newly-minted secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (remember that till the AGM in Madras on November 6, he was merely "acting secretary") has raised the art of gaffing his mouth with his foot to new heights.

His latest gem goes thus: Javagal Srinath, he says, when asked about the possibility that the Indian speed merchant will form part of the lineup to take on Sri Lanka in the first Test at Mohali beginning November 19, has yet to submit a fitness report.

What Lele was implying, here, was that Srinath was not a candidate for consideration when the selectors pick the national side on November 15. "The selectors and I are convinced of Venkatesh Prasad's fitness, but we are yet to receive a certificate from Srinath," says the secretary, who is also convenor of the national selection committee.

Very interesting, that. Srinath, following his recovery, has thus far played three Ranji Trophy games this season for Karnataka, against Kerala, Goa and Hyderabad.

Considering the crucial role Srinath plays in the Indian lineup, as many as three selectors -- Shivlal Yadav, Sambaran Bannerjee and M Pandove -- turned up for his comeback game, against Kerala, to check his form and fitness out. And having watched Srinath bowl flat out on a dead track, professed themselves fully satisfied.

So where is Lele coming from when he clubs himself with the selectors and says they are not satisfied that Srinath is fit?

Interestingly, the national selectors for their part seem more concerned with Prasad's form, if not fitness, than with Srinath. Which explains why the former has been asked to lead the Board President's XI against the visiting Lankans -- providing an opportunity for Prasad to have a long bowl and convince the selectors that he is back to his best, and merits selection.

Meanwhile, the haywire scheduling of matches, that has been the bane of Indian cricket for the past couple of seasons, has manifested itself again. On November 13, the crucial Ranji Trophy game between strong title contenders Karnataka, and the in-form Tamil Nadu outfit, was scheduled to begin. 24 hours before the start of the game, the powers that be realised that November 13 is also the scheduled date of the Anshuman Gaikwad benefit match, between an Indian XI and the Sri Lankan stars, at Baroda. Participating, are the likes of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Robin Singh and Javagal Srinath, all of whom figure in their respective Ranji sides.

To compound the confusion, the cricket associations of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu then hastily got together and rescheduled the Ranji fixture by a day, to begin on November 14.

So now take a look at the schedule for the Indian stars, if they are to play the benefit game, the Ranji game, and the first Test. It runs thus: November 12: Bangalore/Madras to Baroda. November 13: Anshuman Gaikwad benefit match. November 13 night: Baroda to Bangalore. November 14-18: Ranji Trophy game between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in Bangalore. November 18 night: Bangalore to Delhi, then onward by train to Chandigarh, and then a car ride to Mohali, landing there in the early hours of November 19. November 19-23: First Test, India versus Sri Lanka.

There is, perhaps, some method in the madness perpetrated by Lele, in concert with the members of the tours and fixtures committee. But said method escapes me, and all I can see is the madness. How about you guys, any of this make sense to you?

A postscript: Javagal Srinath has couriered, for the urgent attention of Jaywant Lele, a fitness certificate in due form.

"Having played six games including three Ranji Trophy games, my shoulder was put to critical and strenous test. To the best of my knowledge, it has withstood the stress and has responded well," reads the relevant part of Srinath's letter accompanying the certificate.

Interestingly, one of the premier batsmen in India today told my colleague, Harsha Bhogle, in course of a phone conversation three days ago that he recently faced Srinath in the nets and found the opening bowler "bowling bloody quick and with all his old venom".

Maybe said batsman should talk to Lele?