The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday asked the Centre and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to suggest names in sealed covers for appointment in the committee of administrators to run the apex cricket body.
A Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also allowed the BCCI to suggest three names after following the due process to represent it at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting due in first week of February.
The Bench, also comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, made it clear that the names to be given for appointment in the committee of administrators and the representative for the ICC meet should be in consonance with the judgment and subsequent orders passed by the apex court in the matter.
The Bench asked the BCCI and the Centre to give the names in a sealed cover by January 27 and posted the matter for further hearing on January 30
Khanna to wear BCCI acting president's hat
With the Supreme Court of India clarifying that cricket administrators can serve a cumulative period of 18 years in the state association and BCCI, the board's executive functionaries - joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary - are expected to resume BCCI office. DDCA official C K Khanna, by virtue of being the senior-most BCCI vice-president, is also expected to take on the role of acting president.
The order also makes it easier for Ratnakar Shetty and MV Sridhar to continue in their respective capacities as GM (game development) and GM (cricket operations). However, all office bearers will have a short term as the SC-appointed three-member administrative committee will be taking soon.
“I have got a letter from BCCI on Jan 2 where it is acknowledged that I am the senior-most vice president,” Khanna was quoted as saying. “As it is, these posts are ornamental. It doesn't matter whether they stay or leave. The main power will be with the administrators and the CEO,” a source said. The administrators will certainly take a few months to set the house in order, during which they are supposed to implement the Lodha reforms, oversee the change of constitution and conduct elections in the BCCI as well as state associations.
