PCA yet to appoint Electoral Officer for state unit polls

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is one of the very few BCCI state units who have not appointed an Electoral Officer till now for the elections of the state association, scheduled to be completed before September 14.

Going by the slow pace of developments, it seems unlikely that the cricket body’s compliance with the Lodha reforms will be a smooth affair any time soon. When the cricket body becomes Lodha reforms-compliant, then only can it appoint an Electoral Officer for the election.

PCA secretary RP Singla said, “Nothing is final yet. We have written a letter to the amicus curiae who has raised 25 objections. We have replied to that also but there has been no response to it. Once we are clear of all our doubts then only can we move forward.”

The detractors of the current PCA officials say that appointing an Electoral Officer automatically means that the state association is Lodha reforms-compliant; not appointing an Electoral Officer clearly shows their lack of intent and spirit to bring in reforms, they say.

Pun Cricket Players Association (PCPA) president Bhupinder Singh Sr said, “Let’s see for how long can they delay this process. One thing is clear, that the reforms will be implemented whether it is now, six months later, or after one year. Till then they will keep creating roadblocks, but they can only delay the inevitable.”

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) in a meeting next Tuesday is likely to assess the situation with regards to the state associations falling in line with the Lodha Committee recommendations, and the non-compliant units.

The state associations have to complete the elections before the second week of September. The chosen members from the state bodies will then take part in the BCCI polls, scheduled to be held on October 22.