Amicus curiae trumps BCCI
NEW DELHI: In what could be termed as a blow to the senior BCCI officials, the amicus curiae Gopal Subramanium has kept most of the recommendations made by Justice RM Lodha Committee in the draft constitution of the cricket board. The only major point, where the amicus suggested a change was reverting to the five-man selection panel from the current three-member committee. It also suggested a change in ‘Test Players Only’ clause to minimum 20 first-class matches.
The five recommendations, which majority of BCCI office bearers found contentious were: one-state one-vote, tenure of 18 years (9 plus 9), cooling off after every three years, age cap of 70 years, allocation of duties between office-bearers and paid employees (Secretary and CEO).
Almost all the affiliated units had these points in common but to their dismay, Subramanium in his suggestions with regards to the draft constitution submitted to the Supreme Court on October 27, has stuck to original recommendation. On ‘one state one vote’ issue, the amicus had suggested that Railways be considered as voting member among the institutional units considering their contribution in promotion of women’s cricket. However, the voter should be a former player and not an official of Railways.
Services, Universities, National Cricket Club (NCC) and Cricket Club of India (CCI) will however not get back their voting rights. LONDON: Uncapped Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-arnold has won a place in England’s 2018 World Cup squad but, as expected, Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere failed to make the cut.
Alexander-arnold enjoyed a stunning breakthrough season with Liverpool and is in line to start when Jurgen Klopp’s men face Real Madrid in next weekend’s Champions League final.
An ankle injury to club teammate Joe Gomez appears to have worked in Alexander-arnold’s favour and he joins Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier in the squad, with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker now seemingly seen primarily as a right-sided centreback by manager Gareth Southgate. Chelsea captain Gary Cahill is back in the fold but Hart’s poor form during a season-long loan spell at West Ham has cost England’s number one at their three previous major tournaments his place.
Burnley’s Nick Pope joins Jordan Pickford of Everton and Stoke City’s Jack Butland among Southgate’s goalkeeping options.
Arsenal playmaker Wilshere largely put persistent injury woes behind him this season to make 38 club appearances in all competitions. However, a knee problem ruled him out of England’s March friendlies against Netherlands and Italy and a final chance to impress Southgate, who plumped for Ruben Loftus-cheek alongside his regular midfielders after the Chelsea youngster impressed on loan at Crystal Palace.
Manchester City utility man Fabian Delph is set to win his first caps since 2015, having been one of the Premier League champions’ surprise success stories of 2017-18, and is an option at left wing-back alongside Ashley Young and Danny Rose - the latter included despite making only 10 Premier League appearances for Tottenham this term.
The squad: Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope; Defenders: Trent Alexander-arnold, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Ashley Young, Fabian Delph, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones; Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jesse Lingard, Ruben Loftus-cheek, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson; Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck.