CoA TO BCCI: CRICKET’S INTEREST ABOVE ALL

New Delhi, May 3: The Committee of Administrators has warned it would move the Supreme Court if any decision “against the interest of Indian cricket” was taken at a special general meeting on May 7, in a letter to the BCCI’s state units. The letter comes amid speculation that the BCCI is mulling a pullout from the Champions Trophy in England next month despite the CoA making it clear that such a decision could not be taken without its consent.

The letter also intimated members that the ICC may be ready to renegotiate but BCCI’s demand for $570 million — stated as per a 2014 revenue model — “will not be accepted” by the global body.

Point 13 of the letter states that CoA would support any decision “which protects the interests of Indian cricket as a whole”.

However, if the decision at the SGM was one which, “in our view, is against the interests of Indian cricket”, the CoA would not hesitate to seek the Supreme Court’s guidance. “We would be duty bound to bring such decision to the attention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, communicate our views to the Hon’ble Supreme Court and seek its intervention in the matter as also to take such other steps that we consider necessary to protect the interests of Indian cricket.”

The N. Srinivasan faction, which held a tele-conference on Tuesday trying to invoke Members’ Participation Agreement which allows a pull-out, are bullish about the original revenue model.

But the CoA has made it clear what awaits BCCI if it goes on a collision course with the global body. “It is extremely unlikely that ICC and other cricket boards will agree to the amount/share envisaged under financial model that was put in place in 2014,” the CoA states.