Former Indian women's team captain Diana Edulji was "expecting" a role in revamped BCCI but is now gearing up for a "new challenge" after being named one of the four administrators by the Supreme Court.
Edulji's main focus will be on promotion of women's cricket, a cause that she has championed over the years and also the formation of a Players' Association, which she feels is a must for looking after the well being of cricketers.
"I was asked by amicus curae Gopal Subramanium whether I would like to be a part and I had said "yes". I was expecting a role but I was surprised after being named in administrators panel. It is a huge responsibility given to me by the Apex Court and I will like to do justice," Edulji told PTI during an interaction on Monday.
She said that her domain will be much more clearer when she gets terms of reference as per the reforms that are supposed to be carried out.
"I have not yet received my terms of reference in black and white. I have three esteemed colleagues in the four member team. It will be our collective responsibility to take Indian cricket forward."
Asked about her experience in administration, Edulji said that managing various railways teams over the years have given her experience, although BCCI is a bigger ballgame.
"I have managed 40 Railways teams and that has given me some administrative experience. But definitely BCCI is huge body and the pressure will be entirely different. Obviously, the endeavour for each one of us is to take Indian cricket forward and that's what we will be looking at," the 61-year-old said.
One of the doyens of Women's cricket in India, Edulji had played 20 Tests between 1976 and 1991 apart from 34 ODIs. She feels that one area would be to increase the number of Test matches for Mithali Raj and Co.
"I know most of the women's teams don't play Test cricket but England and Australia still play a lot of longer format matches. If it means that India only plays these two countries, so be it but Test matches for women should increase. It's good that women have graded payment system now but that also needs to be streamlined," Edulji said.
‘I’M lIKE a night-watchman’
Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Vinod Rai, who will head the Supreme Court-appointed four-member panel of administrators, on Monday called himself a "night-watchman" whose only job will be to ensure a "smooth transition" to an elected body in BCCI. The Supreme Court on Monday appointed a four-member committee of administrators to run the affairs of the BCCI and implement the court-approved recommendations of the Justice R M lodha panel.
Asked about his new role, he said: "Any such honour from the Supreme Court, one will have to accept and try to put in his best of abilities.”
"I am a true lover of the game of cricket. My role is that of a night-watchman in a sense that we need to put in place good governance, good system and structure in place to ensure a smooth transition to an elected body which in future will bring about good administration in BCCI," he said.
"The game deserves it (good governance), the players desreve it and public at large, who are so fond of the game."