Mumbai is abuzz with celebration as the Indian cricket team is welcomed with open arms. A deluge of fans has gathered. In the midst of the T20 World Cup, shocking revelations about the International Cricket Council's (ICC) mismanagement emerge. Players were served cold meals during matches. In this context, Madan Lal, a member of the victorious 1983 World Cup team, revealed that players had to wash their clothes themselves at the hotel.
BCCI also struggled with sports arrangements
When India won the World Cup under Kapil Dev's captainship in 1983, and the players returned triumphantly, there was a different atmosphere. Players had to struggle not only in their matches but also in practice sessions. The Cricket Board of Control for India (BCCI) also faced challenges with logistical arrangements for the sport. There were times when BCCI didn't have funds to support the team. A concert by Lata Mangeshkar was organized, and the money raised was used to award each player one lakh rupees.
Today, there's buzz about BCCI's 125 crore reward announcement
Today marks a stark contrast with BCCI announcing a whopping 125 crore reward for players, generating global buzz. This is a testament to how far India has leaped in cricket since 1983. Madan Lal shares his poignant experience with resilience during practice, even when they didn't have proper cricket balls and had to adjust with Indian ones. The progress is evident as the teams now receive the best of facilities.
Former cricketer Madan Lal recalls the hard-hitting reality of 1983
The board lacked funds at the time, but the future generations are now reaping the benefits of better provisions. There were times when they lacked even English cricket balls for practice. However, time changes, and with victory comes a change in circumstances.
Laundry was expensive, players washed their own clothes
After 1984, the officials of the BCCI improved cricket's marketing and the sport expanded significantly. During this period, India Today's sports editor Vikrant Gupta noted that in the 70s and 80s, Indian players in England received cold meats instead of warm meals. Madan Lal recalled their frugality, having to wash their own clothing due to the high cost of laundry services.
