The much-awaited Players’ Association would soon take shape, according to a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official. The first meeting in this direction is being held in Mumbai on Thursday.
The meeting will be attended by former Test cricketers Kapil Dev, Aunshuman Gaekwad and Bharath Reddy, along with Shantha Rangaswamy as the women’s representative. Former Home Secretary G. K. Pillai will assist the committee in helping it establish the administrative process along with Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Johri.
The Committee of Administrators (COA) had initially recommended Kapil, Mohinder Amarnath, Anil Kumble and Diana Edulji in the steering committee to help form the Players’ Association as per Lodha Panel Recommendations. Kumble withdrew since he had taken over as the India chief coach while Amarnath expressed his unwillingness for personal reasons. Edulji could not accept the offer because she was included in the COA.
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According to the Lodha Committee recommendations, a member of the Players’ Association will have to be included in the Apex Council which in turn will be taking important decisions related to cricket matters.
The COA is reportedly keen to utilise the experience of Kapil, Gaekwad, Reddy and Rangaswamy, the original icon of women’s cricket in India. Among these players, Gaekwad has played active role in administration at the Baroda Cricket Association.
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The apex global body to represent players interest – the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) – has long supported the idea of a Players’ Association in India. A body was earlier formed under the guidance of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Arun Lal but it failed to make any impact.
Of late, former players have been engaged in forming associations at state level and some of them have also completed the registration process. The Board had never encouraged the idea of a Players’ Association but Lodha Committee Recommendations have made it a mandatory requirement.
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