The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Lodha affect: Pawar to end innings as administrator
Sharad Pawar, who ruled Mumbai Cricket Association for nearly 15 years, is all set to quit his position in six months as MCA accepted the verdict of Supreme Court to implement Lodha committee recommendations, and bring in age and tenure restrictions in holding office. MCA will seek clarifications from BCCI on certain issues even as they have accepted all the recommendations.
Lodha committee had recommended that no official can be over the age of 70 and there would be no more consecutive terms. Instead, three-year terms followed by threeyear cooling periods were prescribed, and the judgment also said that no official can be in power for more than an overall total of nine years. The judgment referenced the National Sports Development Code of India 2011 to make the point. “The National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, interalia stipulated that the President, Secretary and the Treasurer of any recognized National Sports Federation including the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shall cease to hold that post on attaining the age of 70 years. “
The ruling would be mean the end of the road for BCCI old hands N Srinivasan, Sharad Pawar, Niranjan Shah, IS Bindra, MP Pandove, Karnataka cricket head Ashok Anand and Assam secretary Ashirwad Behara.
Pawar, who is 75 years, has decided to step down, though in his speech he did have a humorous dig at the age of the arbitration panel of the Supreme Court. “Supreme Court has taken a decision and I respect that. In the Arbitration Panel of the Supreme Court there are judges who are above 70 years of age. I am happy that their vast experience and knowledge is available to the Supreme Court,” he quipped.
The Supreme Court has given six months to BCCI and all state associations to get the new constitution in place. “I respect the judiciary and will be happy and contended to retire from cricket administration. As you know during my time in the BCCI (as its president) and MCA, several things have been accomplished in support of cricket. We discussed the Lodha Committee recommendations and the Supreme Court judgement and unanimously approved all recommendations given by the Supreme Court," the 75year-old Pawar said. Clarity needed The Lodha recommendation said that every state would get full-member status and voting rights and states with multiple associations, like Gujarat and Maharashtra, would vote by rotation.
However, Pawar made it clear that though they don’t have problem in accepting one state and one vote decision, MCA still needs more clarity when it comes to jurisdiction. “We accept the one state, one vote decision. But we are three associations belonging to Maharashtra state — Mumbai CA, Maharashtra CA and Vidarbha CA. As per the judgement we have to take turns to be represented in the BCCI. When Mumbai gets a chance to be represented, our jurisdiction will extend all over Maharashtra and not confined only to Mumbai and its surrounding areas like Navi Mumbai and Thane as is the case now. We will then have to include players from the rest of Maharashtra in our teams,” the former BCCI chief said. Further he added, “When Maharashtra gets its chance they can include Mumbai players. We need clarification on this point from the BCCI which can then seek the same from the Justice Lodha Committee.”
MCA will have to redraw its constitution and get the draft approved before calling a Special General body meeting to get the new amended constitution passes.
However, Pawar said his only concern pertained to the ICC ‘s constitution which states that there should be no government representative in cricket bodies. As per Lodha’s committee recommendation one CAG representative needed to be added in each association.
In their judgment, the Supreme Court talked about the ICC. “Far from finding fault with presence of a nominee of the Accountant General of the State and C&AG, the ICC would in our opinion appreciate any such step for the same would prevent misgivings about the working of the BCCI especially in relation to management of its funds and bring transparency and objectivity necessary to inspire public confidence in the fairness and the effective management of the affairs of the BCCI and the State Associations.”
“But BCCI already has Services, Universities and Railways as its members. I don't think Mr Shashank Manohar (ICC chairman) will take objection (to CAG representative's presence)," Pawar joked in a lighter vein.