If the Supreme Court makes Justice RM lodha committee’s recommendations on BCCI reforms final and binding, the parent cricket body might have to alter the date of the ninth edition of Indian Premier league, scheduled to start on April 9, this year.
According to one of the recommendations by the Committee, it has been suggested that there should be a 15-day gap between IPl season and national calender.
The Indian cricket team will play take part in the ICC World T20, which will be played in the country from March 14 to April 3.
In case the Indian team qualifies for the final on April 3, the top national cricketers will be playing in IPl within a week from the completion of marquee event.
The page 42 of Volume 1 under the header ‘IPl’ states: “Cricket calendars also ought to keep this in mind, and the BCCI should ensure that at least 15 days gap should be provided between the IPl season and the national calendar. A testing and cramped cricketing year takes a substantial toll on a professional cricketer’s body and longevity, and it is the responsibility of the BCCI to take remedial measures immediately.”
The committee in its observation also reminded the BCCI that Indian players could possible follow example of foreign cricketers, who have declined lucarative IPl contracts for the longevity of their international careers in cricket.
“It ought not to be forgotten that the aim of the BCCI is to attract the best possible cricketing talent to the national side. The fact that many international players have declined lucrative Indian Premier league contracts to preserve themselves for national duty shows the path necessary for Indian cricket.”
CAB demands implementations
The Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) wants the BCCI to implement the recommendations of Justice R M lodha led panel so that cricket activities could resume in the state after 15 years.
Bihar lost its full Membership and voting rights after the bifurcation of the state into Bihar and Jharkhand in 2000.
“It is of utmost urgency that the BCCI immediately implement this recommendation of the lodha Committee and recognise the Cricket Association of Bihar, so that further losses are not caused to the cricketers of the State,” CAB Secretary Aditya Verma said.
“The recommendations are welcome and encouraging for the young cricketers. For the past 15 years, the only victim of the policy of the BCCI towards Bihar has been the game of cricket. Bihar is one of the most populous states in the country and due to the discriminatory policies of the BCCI, a full generation of players have had to suffer.
“The unequivocal recommendation of the lodha Committee for the grant of full membership to Bihar has vindicated the stand of the Cricket Association of Bihar. The BCCI was formed primarily to further the objects of the game of cricket in the entire country,” Verma added.
The CAB Secretary lamented that Bihar does not even have a team participating in any first class tournament conducted by the BCCI, including the Ranji Trophy and they get no financial supports for development of the game.
The lodha panel recommended that all states should have only one team and one vote.
It means that states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, who have three teams each, will have to give full membership to only one team and relegate the other two as associates without voting rights.