MUMBAI: The buzz that one associates with the BCCI’s annual general meeting was missing on Sunday, even though it was the first in three years and also the first since sweeping changes were made to the board’s constitution following a Supreme Court order.
Instead, Sourav Ganguly’s first AGM as board president saw many key decisions being put on hold. The BCCI has decided to approach the apex court — a tentative date for hearing is December 3 — with regards to amendments to a few clauses in the new constitution.
There was one notable decision, with regards to the BCCI’s representation to ICC meetings. For the ICC chief executive meeting, the general body has decided to send secretary Jay Shah in place of the CEO. It contradicts the new constitution, which states that for such meetings, the CEO should be the BCCI’s representative.
If this raised eyebrows, there was more in store with regards to BCCIs’ representative to the ICC board. While N Srinivasan’s name was expected to be finalised, no decision was taken on the front. Indications are, Ganguly himself might represent the board. Srinivasan is 74 and exceeds the age cap as mentioned in the constitution. And to send him to ICC, the BCCI needs approval of the Supreme Court.
According to reliable sources, the ICC sent an eligibility criteria to Ganguly and Shah soon after they took charge. This rules out Srinivasan from making it to ICC board. While the court will be the biggest authority to rule on this, the BCCI is also understood to have referred the matter to the ethics officer. Srinivasan seems to be aware of these developments and despite being in Mumbai on Saturday, he didn’t stay back for the AGM and left for Chennai.
As expected, the five amendments regarding cooling-off, ICC representative, secretary getting more power than the CEO, curtailing the authority of the Apex Council came up for discussion. While no formal voting was required, it is understood that the members unanimously agreed to approach the Supreme Court for green light.
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If these are accepted by the court, it will basically take the BCCI back to the pre-reform era. This is what the old guards of the BCCI had fought for. Now, a former India captain who took charge of the board wearing the team blazer just over a month back, will speak in favour of them in the Supreme Court. It shows just how receptive to the reforms this board is.
With another legal battle in the waiting, the AGM didn’t get to see any of the committees formed, most notably the Cricket Advisory Committee which is supposed to pick the selection committee. “The conflict law stops everyone. A to Z, it stops everything. It has stopped former cricketers as well as former administrators. That’s why we can’t form the CAC. That’s why we can’t choose the selectors. It has to be practical. Conflict should be only for us, who are administrators. I don’t know where it will finish,” Ganguly expressed deep concern about the conflict of interest rule.
TN, Haryana attend AGM
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and Haryana Cricket Association were allowed to attend the AGM despite not being fully compliant with the new constitution. “Their constitution has to be done in the same manner. Maharashtra have done it, they were part of the meeting. Haryana and Tamil Nadu have to do this. They are aware of this and dealing with it. Hopefully, they will get it done,” Ganguly said.
Pension scheme revision
Meanwhile, the BCCI will revise its pension and medical schemes so that they cater to the ones who are actually in need of it. A lot of the beneficiaries have jobs and also get pensions. “We will have to make it more available to those who are more in need of it,” Ganguly said.
Tenure over for selectors: Ganguly
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly indicated that there will be no extension for members of the selection committee whose tenures have ended. Going by the board’s old constitution that has a provision for a maximum four-year term for the selectors, its chairman MSK Prasad and his colleague Gagan Khoda’s terms have expired. They were appointed in 2015 while Jatin Paranjpe, Sarandeep Singh and Devang Gandhi joined them in 2016. The amended constitution, though, has a provision for a maximum five-year term. “Tenures are finished (means) tenures are finished. You cannot go beyond your tenure. They have done a good job. We will set a fixed term for selectors,” Ganguly said.
Ask him: Ganguly on Dhoni in WT20
“Please ask Dhoni,” was Sourav Ganguly’s response when he was asked if the wicketkeeper-batsman would be part of next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. The former captain has been out of action since India’s semifinal exit from the 50-over World Cup in July. “Please ask Dhoni,” said Ganguly when a scribe asked about the possibility of the veteran featuring in the ICC event. The man from Ranchi himself had said that till January he won’t answer questions on his sabbatical.