He has no problem with the lodha Committee's recommendation of 'One State, One Vote' but former BCCI treasurer and current Maharashtra Cricket Association President Ajay Shirke on Tuesday said he is finding it difficult to accept the relegation of his unit to associate status.
The lodha Committee, in its recommendations, has suggested a host of reforms including 'One State, One Vote' which would mean one among three between Mumbai, Maharashtra and Vidarbha will retain right to vote with other two being relegated as associate members.
"let me make it clear at the outset that I have no fascination for retaining my voting right. I am indifferent to these changes of voting or not as that does not concern or bother me as an individual. I did not come to cricket administration to have a voting right and these things have never been my priority. There is no question of challenging this from my side," Shirke, who is a member of the powerful IPl governing council, said.
"Had I been enamoured by voting rights, I wouldn't have resigned from BCCI treasurer's post in 2013 when the IPl fiasco was at its height. I never thought that treasurer's post is something that is important for me. But it baffles as to how an 80-year-old association be relegated to an associate member," the veteran administrator said.
The former BCCI treasurer also clarified that it will be Mumbai Cricket Association which will retain its right to vote from the Maharashtra region.
"Mumbai is the senior association and obviously they will have the voting right. But I can tell you one thing that if I have a problem with Mumbai CA or Vidarbha CA, I pick up the phone and sort it out. I do not need to move court for that," said Shirke.
But he also clarified that this is his personal view and not the view of either BCCI or even Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA).
"The views expressed are entirely personal in nature. I am certainly not speaking on behalf of anybody in BCCI or Maharashtra CA. Ajay Shirke is not BCCI or Maharashtra CA. Others may have their own opinion but I, as an individual, believe that development of cricket is not based on whether we have the right to vote or not," Shirke stated.
"Whether that is the view of Maharastra CA I don't know. This is purely my personal opinion and one has to appreciate that while I may vote on behalf of the association, it is not my vote but the association voting right that I exercise. This has to be kept in mind," Shirke added.
About Mumbai being the voting association, Shirke said:" Also if Mumbai will be the voting association or not I can't say. It is for the BCCI to decide as proposed by lodha Committee. When that itself is not known, these are simple personal responses to one of the change of one state-one vote."
"For me, it is important that I work for the betterment and development of Maharashtra cricket. I want to work towards Maharashtra having a strong Ranji team along with development of age-group cricket. The stadium that we have built is not for organising 7 IPl games per year. I want this stadium to host Test matches and ODIs," said Shirke.
MCA to take stock next week
Rattled by the lodha committee's recommendations of sweeping reforms, MCA’s managing committee will meet next week to take stock of the report's implications.
"We are meeting on January 13. Yes, it's about the lodha Committee's report," MCA's joint secretary Dr P V Shetty said.
The MCA has reasons to be concerned about the recommendations of the lodha panel that persons above 70 years of age should not be office-bearers in the BCCI or its affiliated state association, as its president Sharad Pawar is 75-years-old.
The other suggestion that could have bearing on the association is that of one state, one vote. If this is accepted, then Mumbai CA, which is one of the permanent Test centres of the Board and has a permanent place on the Working Committee, will lose its vote.
‘Three selectors not enough’
Former selection committee chiefs Dilip Vengsarkar and Kiran More have questioned Justice lodha Committee's recommendation that proposed pruning the national selection panel from five to three.
One of the key reforms proposed by the lodha committee was to limit the selection panel to three former Test players retired at least five years prior to their appointment. It recommended setting up of a talent committee to facilitate the national selectors, reduce their workload and "increase the authority" of the panel.
Vengsarkar was quoted by ESPNcricinfo: "The game has spread to small cities and the player pool has increased now. It always helps to have more views and opinions on a particular selection at times,” said the present NCA director.
More said, "At the moment the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is taking place across four venues. Suppose there are three selectors, how many games can they watchIJ"