BCCI stays reformed, for now

Mumbai, December 1

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has decided against taking unilateral action to change its constitution, reformed under the watch of the Supreme Court, which stamped the modified constitution with its seal of approval. The old guard of the board wishes to dilute the reforms mandated by the Supreme Court. However, in its 88th AGM here, BCCI decided that it would seek the Supreme Court’s approval before modifying the constitution.

BCCI’s officials wish to modify the rule on the tenure limitation for its office-bearers so that officials could stay in position for longer periods than mandated by the Supreme Court-approved constitution.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, addressing the media, said the courts will decide on the issue: “At the end of the day, the court will decide.”

The proposed changes to the constitution were read out but not put to vote, possibly due to legal advice that changing the constitution would amount to contempt of Supreme Court.

Cooling off

To stop office-bearers from clinging to power for very long — some had been in power for over four decades — the Supreme Court had approved a cap on tenures. As per the reformed constitution, an office-bearer who has served two three-year terms — either at BCCI or at a state association — must go into a compulsory three-year cooling-off period during which he/she can’t hold office. The current dispensation wants the cooling off period to kick in only after the individual has finished two terms (a total of six years) at BCCI and state association separately.

Ganguly, who took charge on October 23, must vacate office next year due to his prior positions with the Cricket Association of Bengal. However, if rules are changed, he could remain BCCI president until 2024. A rule change will also pave the way for secretary Jay Shah to get an extension when his term ends next year.

BCCI also wants the Supreme Court to keep out of future decisions on constitutional amendments and has proposed that a three-fourths majority at the AGM be enough to make a decision. BCCI’s officials believe it is not “practical” to take the Supreme Court’s approval for every amendment, which is a must as per the existing constitution. — TNS, PTI

Shah at ICC 

At the AGM today, Jay Shah was named India’s representative to attend future meetings of the International Cricket Council’s Chief Executives’ Committee. Board CEO Rahul Johri had been BCCI’s representative at these meetings when BCCI was being run by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators. But with an elected panel in office now, the role has gone back to the secretary. However, BCCI has not yet decided on its representative for the ICC Board meetings.

CAC deferment 

BCCI has decided to defer the appointment of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC). “We will form CAC and we met (BCCI ombudsman) Justice DK Jain. Me and VVS (Laxman) were cleared, we need to get proper clarity on what is conflict and what is not,” Sourav Ganguly said. “The clause stops everyone, that’s why we can’t make the CAC. Conflict (clause) should only be for us.” Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Ganguly had stepped down from CAC owing to the conflict of interest clause in the new constitution.