BCCI office-bearers lose powers
NEWDELHI: Three ‘acting’ officials of the BCCI – president CK Khanna, secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry – will no more be in control. As mandated by the Supreme Court in its order on August 9, 2018, the overall supervision of the Board’s administration will now be in the hands of the Committee of Administrators.
The new BCCI constitution was registered by Board CEO Rahul Johri on Tuesday. It immediately put an end to the powers enjoyed by the acting office-bearers. “The new rules came into force soon after the new constitution was registered in Chennai. As per Supreme Court, the officebearers will no more be able to exercise any power without the approval of the COA,” explained a senior Board functionary in the know of things.
The past several months have seen a slew of conflicts between the Committee of Administrators and BCCI’S acting officials, particularly the secretary and treasurer. On matters relating to hike in players’ salaries, appointment of professional managers, players’ rehabilitation, international travel and allowances, the officials and the COA, headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, were never on the same page.
The audacity of the BCCI officials hit a peak when a special general meeting, attended by most members, was organised in New Delhi on June 22 in complete defiance of the COA. All that will end now till the BCCI convenes its annual general body meeting and elects fresh office-bearers.
“Any powers exercisable by any office-bearer will henceforth be only as mandated under the New Constitution and shall be exercised only with the prior approval of the Committee of Administrators. The office-bearers and/or their respective Executive Assistants as well as the employees of BCCI shall not undertake any travel outside India at BCCI expense without the prior approval of the Committee of Administrators,” said a COA directive on Thursday.
As things stand now, the state units and voting members will have to comply with the new constitution by September 20. “Assuming that there are no more hassles, we should have a new set of BCCI officials in 90 days,” said the functionary. The fact that the new rules impede the future of quite a few high-profile cricket administrators, litigation cannot be ruled out.
However, the “BCCI shall no longer bear the expenses of any legal advisor/ consultant who is taking instructions from and/or reporting to any office-bearer. Any such existing appointment/ engagement shall be terminated.”
Meanwhile, the COA is working on the formation of a players’ association. Two members – a male and a female – are integral components of the nine-member Apex Council that will have supreme powers to the run the BCCI in future.
While Johri will control most of the administrative work and be one of the six signatories to operate the bank accounts, the Cricket Advisory Committee and the selection panels will continue to function normally.
STOKES FOR DURHAM
LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes will be available to play as a specialist batsman for Durham in their T20 Blast quarter-final at home against Sussex.
Stokes was initially ruled out of Friday’s match at Durham’s Chester-le-street headquarters after suffering minor discomfort in his left knee during the Trent Bridge Test against India.