New Delhi: Former India captain, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, feels that instant money and fame has spoilt many Indian cricketers and it’s the responsibility of the BCCI to handle them properly and teach them how to deal with these temptations.

Pataudi, in a recent interview, said that barring a couple of players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, easy money and fame has now become a distraction for most cricketers, especially the youngsters who are more susceptible to these temptations and it’s affecting their attitude towards the game.

“It (money and fame) has certainly distracted them… in fact many of them, and therefore they are not committed to the extent they should be. The name and fame they are getting has spoilt them and temptation is much more now than it was in my time,” Pataudi said.

Pataudi was, however, quick to add that it all varies from individual to individual how they adjust to the fame and fortune they earn from the game.

“I think all these depend on the individuals. Some are carried away by the fame and fortune and some don’t. Take the example of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. They remain as committed as they were when they started. There are one or two players whom I don’t wish to name who have been affected and have lost out. They have failed to adjust to this new fame and fortune,” Pataudi told a TV channel.

Considered one of the most charismatic players of his era, Pataudi said young cricketers need guidance from BCCI on how not to get affected by instant name and money.

“When we talk about earning money and fame so early, BCCI should look into this angle and have the kind of symposium to teach people how to deal with this early fame and fortune and visibility. That’s the role of BCCI. If parents can’t do it, schools can’t do it, BCCI should do it,” Pataudi said. “When you are young and from a humble background and suddenly end up making a lot of money, how do you deal with it? It’s not easy for a young Indian cricketer.”

Pataudi blamed outside pressure for the lack of mental toughness among current cricketers and directly held the media responsible for making them instant celebrities by giving unnecessary attention to them.

“It has a lot to do with outside pressure, especially media visibility or any other kind of temptation. Some of them are not that bad but then the players are not used to that, especially instant money and fame,” he said. “They don’t know what to do with the kind of attention, fame and fortune they have suddenly gathered in a very short span of time especially when they are not used to it. It (the attention) is bound to effect their concentration, as they become little flustered by all this.”

Asked whether the attitude and performance of Indian cricketers would improve if people start paying less attention towards them, Pataudi said, “I suspect yes. Don’t be so adoring and that too so quickly.”

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