CHENNAI: The court-appointed committee of administrators (CoA) and BCCI state associations continue to be at loggerheads. After most member units boycotted the annual awards night in Bengaluru in protest against the decision to not invite disqualified officials, a similar issue is threatening to cause illwill in the IPL.
The CoA has asked associations hosting IPL to produce a list of names to be accredited for matches. It has added that names “should not be of persons disqualified by the Supreme Court order”. This decision was taken at a CoA meeting earlier this month, where it was also decided that host associations will get the statutory `30 lakh per match from the BCCI 14 days after the event, only if they submit letters declaring compliance with court orders.
Normally, accreditation cards with photos are issued to those on duty and association officials functioning as organising officials. In some places, associations use their discretion in inviting guests. The CoA instruction means those above 70 and who have completed nine years as office-bearers are not eligible for IPL accreditation. If they want to attend, they have to possess tickets.
Having written to the CoA earlier for assurance on the BCCI money, the state bodies Express spoke to offered mixed reactions to instructions regarding no accreditation for disqualified persons. Of the nine hosting the IPL, some said they have convened a meeting to prepare a list of names, some said they have not heard officially from the CoA, some said they will question this order in court on March 24, when BCCI-Lodha matters are heard again.
“Former office-bearers contributed to the development of the associations. Inviting them for matches is a nice way of acknowledging it. There could also be eminent former players above 70. If the CoA says they can't be accredited, we can only say this is not just. We will ask the court if this is appropriate,” an official of an association staging matches said. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Rajkot, Mohali and Indore are the venues for league games.
It can be noted that hosting associations issue only a limited number of accreditation passes. The franchises get proceeds from gates after giving 15 per cent of tickets to the respective state units. The CoA's earlier ruling that disqualified former office-bearers can't get involved even in advisory capacity in state bodies has been questioned in court by state units. A hearing is likely on March 24, where the IPL accreditation issue will also be raised.
atreyo@newindianexpress.com