TN wants new BCCI constitution revised
AS PER THE SUPREME COURT ORDER IF THE STATE ASSOCIATIONS DO NOT UNDERTAKE COMPLIANCE, THEN THEY STAND TO LOSE OUT ON BCCI GRANTS.
NEWDELHI: With nine days left for members to accept the new BCCI constitution, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, on Tuesday, has filed an application in the Supreme Court saying rules on tenure and eligibility to become an office-bearer of the Board/state association are confusing. The petition filed by the TNCA treasurer VP Narasimhan reflects the mood of state bodies reluctant to comply with the new regulations.
A similar application was filed on August 28 by acting BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary. The senior Jharkhand official pointed out to a Supreme Court order dated March 24, 2017 that says nine-year tenures at BCCI and state are to be treated “separately”.
He contends the new constitution effectively “combines two tenures” and creates an “anomalous” situation that needs to be clarified by the Supreme Court. Choudhary’s petition is yet to be listed for a hearing.
According to the Supreme Court order on August 9, 2018, if the state associations do not undertake compliance, then they stand to lose out on BCCI grants as per an order dated October 7, 2016.
Tamil Nadu is among 10 state associations scheduled to host international matches between India and the West Indies starting October 4.
WEST INDIES TOUR OF INDIA IN JEOPARDY?
On October 17, 2014, West Indies abruptly called off their Indian tour in the wake of payment structure dispute among the players, West Indies Cricket Board and the players’ association. This time, the imbroglio inside the BCCI could lead to financial issues in venues hosting Tests, ODIs and T20s.
The first Test is scheduled in Rajkot from October 4-8 and Saurashtra Cricket Association, just like TNCA that is scheduled to host the third and final T20 of the West Indies tour on November 11, is a strong opponent of the age and tenure clauses in the new constitution.
In October 2016, India’s home matches with New Zealand ran into trouble after the Justice Lodha committee directed banks to freeze accounts of the BCCI. The directive came after state units refused to accept the Lodha panel’s proposals on age, tenure and one-state-one-vote policy.
‘NO NEED OF COA, BRING BACK EX-PRESIDENTS’
TNCA has been extremely forceful in its prayer to the Supreme Court. It has asked for the dissolution of the Committee of Administrators and appoint a committee comprising former presidents and office-bearers to manage BCCI affairs. TNCA also wants a new constitution drafted in accordance with the suggestions of the Lodha committee that was accepted by the apex court on July 18, 2016. Interestingly, former presidents N Srinivasan and Anurag Thakur lost their hot seats during the course of the BCCI hearings.