Cricket mafia on its way out
The Board of Cricket Control of India's (BCCI) problems do not seem to be ending soon as the SC-appointed panel keeps things in a flux for the administrators with its actions. Already many office-bearers have quit and there are expectations that a few more will have to leave.
Further, keeping the Lodha panel recommendations, there was not much to cheer for Cricket Associations of many states including Jammu and Kashmir in the ensuing year; many will have to go for a compulsory ‘cooling off' of three years having completed three years at the State association as secretary and president.
The committee also clarified that the total tenure in cricket administration i.e. State and BCCI will be nine years cumulative and not 18 years as it was mentioned earlier.
Meanwhile, with regard to issues pertaining to elections in State associations, the panel made it clear that if associations don't have pending cases against them, they can go ahead with elections conforming to the new set of reforms. Cricket Association of J&K too has to face embarrassing position and it remained in high controversy for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds under stewardship of Farooq Abdullah.
Another question was whether elections can be conducted for member associations before the due amendments are made to their constitutions/bye-laws bringing them in line with the judgement. The answer was that while there is no bar to the holding of elections (subject to orders of any court) if any election is held which is inconsistent with the committee's report and the judgement of the Supreme Court, then the same will be treated as void and with no legal sanctity.
There had been spells of confusion about the conduct of the ongoing India-England series which includes Test matches, ODIs and T20s with some host associations being fund-strapped. As of now, the tour has gone ahead without much hitch but the road ahead doesn't seem to be smooth.
Already, the BCCI is without its president (Anurag Thakur) and secretary Ajay Shirke after they were sent packing for not implementing the reforms suggested by the Lodha Committee. The way forward looks filled with hurdles for the board, which is struggling to come to terms with the problems arising out of the failure to carry out the directions of the Lodha panel. There is uncertainty over the future of the members, who still continue to hold posts.
The apex court had said that an observer would be appointed on 19 January to oversee BCCI and that may be a pointer to how things will go in the days ahead.
