Since Pawar took over as president, bringing an end to the Jagmohan Dalmiya era last November, there is frantic activity to streamline the system. Vice-president Lalit Modi has gone on a marketing spree, finding sponsors for everything right till the players' kits.
Though the BCCI is the richest cricket board and one of the richest sporting bodies in the world, the Indian team's recent performances have not been able to sustain the hype, bringing the powers that be under immense scrutiny.
International Cricket Council CEO Malcolm Speed rubbed in the salt during the Champions Trophy, saying only performance was a true barometer of cricket success.
Shetty defended the BCCI, saying that money generated could not be related to how well the team plays.
"The first six months the team was successful. It's only because they haven't done well recently. Money is generated on the hype, but it cannot be related to the performance on the field.
"Also we are putting the money back into the game. 26 per cent goes to the international players, another 13 per cent goes to the domestic teams. Even if it's 13 per cent, it's a huge amount; today a domestic player can make upto 64,000 per game, which was unthinkable about three years ago. Players can now make a career out of cricket even if they don't play at the international level.
"All the associations are entitled to up to 25 crores, if they do put in the efforts to improve the facilities and stadium. We are also supporting universities to build a cricket ground."
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