Defiant Board rejects key reforms, ready to face court
It seems that even Supreme Court’s warning, just three days ago, of “either fall in line or we will make you fall in line” was not enough to shake the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Indian cricket board on Saturday held a marathon meeting to discuss the implementation of the Lodha Committee’s first set of recommendations during the Special General Meeting here at the Cricket Centre. The meeting had been reconvened after it was adjourned on Friday. The outcome of over six-hour long meeting might not impress the Supreme Court.
Though the BCCI, which has to respond to Lodha Committee’s status report in the apex court by October 6, in its press release stated that the Board has unanimously adopted “important recommendations”, they have conveniently rejected some major reforms which could change the landscape of cricket in India. Key recommendations like 70-year age cap on administrators, nine-year tenure with cooling period after every term and the one state, one vote policy have been rejected.
Even the recommendations which have been accepted (see box) are with “certain modifications”. It has been learnt that the BCCI is willing to form the Apex Council which will replace the all-powerful working committee, but it does not want the representatives (one male cricketer and one female) of the Players Association on the Apex Council. “The members were also unanimous in giving voting rights to the Associate members as per the ICC guidelines,” the BCCI release stated. The ICC guidelines are that the votes have to be divided in 3:1 ratio. Three Associate and Affiliate members form one vote in the ICC. Vidarbha Cricket Association, who on Saturday unanimously adopted the new Memorandum of Association and constitution as per the Lodha Committee recommendations, asked for a leave from the SGM which was granted by the BCCI. ‘CAN’T IMPLEMENT’ BCCI president Anurag Thakur said, “Some recommendations which they (members) felt would not be possible to implement due to legal challenges or practical difficulties were not accepted. A detailed report will be submitted in the Supreme Court and sent to Lodha Committee on what the members have felt and (highlight the) difficulties on why some recommendations were not accepted.
MUMBAI:
As per the BCCI structure, it is the members who form the board. It is up to the members to accept or reject. We just invited them to discuss the recommendations,” said Thakur. The BCCI was supposed to adopt the new draft memorandum as proposed by the Lodha Committee by September 30. Thakur, however, said that that the BCCI has not missed any deadline. “We have adhered to the deadline,” he said before dashing off.
BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke said the BCCI has done its best to implement the reforms. “It is important to note that the BCCI falls under the Societies Act and has to adhere to the provisions of the Act. Under the Act, a 3/4th majority is required to reach a consensus. “We tried to take the horse to the water. We have accepted unanimously a number of recommendations. If the panel or the apex court deems it as contempt or anything else, we are open to their judgment.