Another chance for BCCI to come good

The Supreme Court’s direction that a new constitution for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) be drafted by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in view of the stubborn resistance by the board and state associations to implementing the apex court-appointed Justice Lodha committee’s recommendations is well-intentioned and must be supported. Whenever and wherever well-entrenched interests are held under threat there is inevitably an attempt to circumvent any new process. It is apt that the CoA has complained to the apex court that the reforms process is not being implemented in conformity with court orders. The apex court has afforded an opportunity to the BCCI to tailor the proposed constitution to the practical needs while not compromising on the integrity quotient. That the BCCI office-bearers made hay while the sun shone is a fact of life. It is time now that they be disciplined and made to conform to some form of accountability.

The apex court’s excuse of helplessness in persuading state associations to implement the orders cannot be accepted. The BCCI, as much as the State associations, have to learn to comply or face the consequences of their inaction. It was not inappropriate for the court to have ordered a comprehensive revamp that barred ministers and bureaucrats from the board and to set an age limit of 70 years for office-bearers. It had also laid down that office-bearers could hold a post for a maximum of three terms, each of three years with a cooling off period between two terms. Apparently, this was designed to stave off members developing vested interests and to curb corruption. The provision that each state must have one vote rather than some having more sounds fair in principle but any reservations to this could be duly examined before it is incorporated in the new constitution. There indeed can be no two opinions that the new constitution, once adopted, must be duly followed by all and non-implementers if any must be shown the door. The indiscipline of yesteryears cannot be allowed to be perpetuated.