Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Controversy in Indian Cricket Board is not new' that was published in Newsband

Controversy in Indian Cricket Board is not new

The administrative affairs of Indian cricket continue to be embroiled in controversy. The office-bearers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in not constructively accepting the reforms recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed R.M. Lodha Committee. These recommendations, including those barring ministers, bureaucrats and anyone above the age of 70 from holding office in cricket’s administrative body, are now binding on the BCCI after the Supreme Court accepted the report.

The sweeping reforms directed by the SC are hard to digest. But, they were the result of the massive abuse of power by the BCCI functionaries. The successive governments miserably failed to check the abuse as some of the functionaries were top political leaders and also top bureaucrats. After tasting the power for so long, none of these functionaries are prepared to give in. These people are hell bent on stalling reforms and they are not even hesitating to cast aspersions against the Lodha Committee. They also do not want the CJI to hear any appeals by the BCCI. This speaks for itself. No reforms are possible in the BCCI with the present set of office-bearers and hence the SC should go by the recommendations of the Lodha Committee without any further loss of time.

Apparently, there is something seriously amiss in the administration of the BCCI. That is perhaps the only explanation that can be drawn if one were to go by the dilly-dallying of the incumbent members, who, in their fear that many skeletons can come out of the cupboard, are doing everything at their disposal to ensure that the recommendations of the three-member Lodha Committee would not be completely binding on them.

Controversy in Indian Cricket Board is not new. The players as well as board officials have been embroiled in many unpleasant situations. But, Supreme Court’s strong intervention has helped in projecting the gravity of the existing problem. It would be better if the board functions with a greater degree with transparency from now on.

Lodha committe's recommendations are fully up to the mark. It will be helpful to create a balanced aura around the BCCI working panel.