With the Supreme Court on Friday clarifying that cricket administrators can hold on to a post in state association for nine years and in Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for nine years, many administrators have heaved a sigh of relief.
Ever since the Supreme Court, on July 18 last year, directed for the implementation of the proposed rulebook prepared by SC-appointed R.M. Lodha Committee, there was utter confusion about whether the nine-year tenure cap was cumulative. While the Supreme Court on January 2 stated that the cap was combined for state association and BCCI, it issued a clarification the next day. However, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) last week made a turnaround and restricted the combined tenure to nine years in the draft BCCI regulations uploaded on its website.
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The BCCI joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary said he was “never confused” about the tenure clause mentioned by the Supreme Court in its order. The Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajeev Shukla was delighted after the Supreme Court ended the suspense. “I am glad that the confusion is over,” Shukla told Sportstar from New Delhi. “Now that the confusion is over, we all are looking forward to abide by the Court directives and contribute towards development of the game.”
Shukla attending the last month’s IPL Auction in Bengaluru had raised eyebrows, especially in the wake of the CoA having put the onus on respective individuals to attend the event if they are eligible to attend. Friday's development has put the matter to rest.
A former BCCI office-bearer, requesting anonymity, referred to Friday’s development as “a slap on the CoA’s face”. But he wondered if such a development would lead to “more confusion” with regard to BCCI administration.
Choudhary & Chaudhry conundrum
It would be interesting to see if Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry can continue to serve as office-bearers. On January 2, the apex court had directed they could continue provided they submitted an affidavit about implementing the reforms within four weeks at the state associations.
If the two are eligible to serve as office-bearers, it would also put a question mark over BCCI’s representatives at the International Cricket Council's next Board meeting in April.
The Committee of Administrators said chief executive Rahul Johri and a CoA member will attend the CEO’s and Board meetings, respectively.
However, if allowed to continue as office-bearers, Anirudh and Amitabh can stake a claim for representing the BCCI.
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