Supreme Court order brings relief to Mumbai cricket
MCA is happy to have its right back. We welcome this historical judgment and are looking forward to work with the new constitution UNMESH KHANVILKAR, MCA joint secretary
MUMBAI:MUMBAI Cricket Association (MCA) heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled against the ‘One State, One Vote’ recommended in the Lodha reforms.
The apex court observed that to utilise territoriality as a basis of exclusion is problematic because it ignores history and the contributions made by the associations, and stated: “Having due regard to the contributions made by Mumbai and Vidarbha in the State of Maharashtra and by Baroda and Saurashtra in the State of Gujarat to the game of cricket, it would be appropriate to also grant them full membership of the BCCI.”
Both Maharashtra and Gujarat have three cricket associations and all will continue to have voting rights. Welcoming the move, the MCA joint-secretary, Unmesh Khanvilkar said: “We are very happy to have this judgment and we’re thankful to the Supreme Court. MCA is happy to have its right back. We welcome this historical judgment and are looking forward to work with the new constitution.”
Former MCA president Ravi Savant, too, lauded the court’s decision and spoke of the association’s historic past. “It’s good news. Restoration of vote is important. Because when you have a vote you have a voice. Mumbai is known as the Mecca of India cricket. It has produced more Test cricketers than other associations put together. Good that their contribution has been recognised.”
Khanvilkar, who had been elected to his post back in 2015, also reiterated that he was happy that tenures of office-bearers had been extended to two terms. “First of all, it’s a good decision. There has to be some continuity with the people who are working.” He further added that the MCA will comply with the approved BCCI constitution once it’s tabled. “Once it’s (the new constitution) passed, and it gets channelised into BCCI, as per the BCCI guidelines and the Supreme Court guidelines, we’ll work on that,” he said.