Former India woman captain has task at hand
THE first woman to hold a top post at India’s powerful and wealthy cricket board vowed yesterday to put the scandal-plagued body’s house in order.
Former India captain Diana Edulji was appointed on Monday to a fourmember team tasked by India’s Supreme Court to oversee the running of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“The first step we have to take is to get the house in order,” Edulji, who played 20 Tests and 34 one-day internationals for India between 1976 and 1993, told reporters outside her home in Mumbai.
“Let’s hope we can bring justice and bring BCCI back to its glorious days,” added the 61-year-old, saying it was time for Indian cricket to “look ahead” after years of turmoil.
The Supreme Court’s appointment of the panel, headed by former government auditor Vinod Rai, was the latest development in its BCCI shakeup.
The board has been embroiled in a series of scandals, including accusations of corruption in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and a betting scandal involving an IPL team linked to its former head, Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
Charges of corruption and nepotism dented the BCCI’s image in recent times, leading many activists to urge India’s top court to intervene to reform the privately-run organisation. The Supreme Court earlier last month sacked the BCCI’s two most senior officials for failing to implement reforms aimed at improving governance and transparency.
Edulji, who joins prominent historian Ramachandra Guha, Mumbaibased banker Vikram Limaye as well as Rai, on the new administrative body, said it was unclear how long the four would be in place.
“Until we get the house in order, BCCI elections are done and everything (with) the state associations. Until the orders of the Supreme Court are implemented then only we will know.”
As a left-arm orthodox bowler Edulji collected 63 wickets in Tests and 46 in ODIs.
“I hope I can bring something that women’s cricket can progress definitely, popularise the game, play more cricket and have a lot more international exposure,” said Edulji. — AFP