7/20/2016 CleaningupcricketOPINIONTheHindu

TODAY'SPAPEROPINION

Published:July20,201600:00IST|Updated:July20,201606:06ISTJuly20,2016

Cleaningupcricket
Thesignificanceofsomejudicialinterventionstrumpthefactthattheyareunusualoraremarredbyexcessiveactivism.TheSupremeCourts
projecttorevampthecricketadministrationisonesuch.IthasacceptedtherecommendationsofacommitteeheadedbyformerChiefJustice
ofIndiaR.M.Lodha,whichfavouredsweepingstructuralreformsandspecificrulestoeliminateconflictsofinterestandthecreationofnear
permanenttenuresandfiefdoms.Initsoverallapproach,thecourthasshownasharpunderstandingoftwobroadills:theconcentrationof
powerinthepresidentoftheBoardofControlforCricketinIndiaandthepatronageextendedbytheofficetofavouredindividualswhoenjoy
thepresidentsconfidence.Thepanelsrecommendationsstemfromthesameconcern:theyincluderestrictionsonthenumberoftermsand
overalltenureforofficebearers,abaronanyoneholdingmorethanoneofficeatatime,acoolingoffperiodbetweenonetenureandanother,
andthereplacementofthebloatedworkingcommitteewithaninememberApexCouncilwithplayerrepresentation.Normally,aprivate
bodywouldnotbesubjecttosuchrestrictionsinitsrighttoformanassociation.AndtheBCCImaywellbelieveitspowersareunfetteredor
atleastnotsubjecttojudicialmicromanagement.ButcricketisanationalsportandtheBCCI,irrespectiveofitslegalstatus,mustactina
transparentandaccountablemannerasatrusteeofthegame.Theneedtodosoisallthegreatergiventhehugeinfusionofcorporatefunding
inrecentyears,whichhasattractedanassortmentofoperatorsandshadowyinterestsseekingtocapitaliseoncricketspopularity.

ItwasthebettingscandalthathittheIndianPremierLeaguein2013thatbroughttotheforetheunsavouryaspectsofthecricketing
administration.AnimpressionhadgainedgroundthattheBoardoperatedlikeacosy,selfservingclub.Thatitwasimportanttoputanend
tograveconflictofinterestissuesthathaveplaguedthegameandtakeahardlineagainstmalpracticessuchasmatchfixingandspotfixing
isindisputable.OnemaydisagreewithsomeaspectsofthecourtsordersuchastheoneStateonevoteruleandtheplacingofacaponthe
ageofofficebearersthesearedetailsbestlefttoadministrativebodies.Butthesearebutcavilsgiventheoverallthrustoftheorder,which
isaimedatintroducingameasureofprofessionalisminthemanagementofthegame.ItisherethattheSupremeCourtsorderwillbetested
intheyearstocome.Ifitbringsaboutgreatertransparencyintheoperationofbothcommercialandsportingaspectsofcricket,itwouldbe
meanasignificantvictoryforitsgenuineproponentsandsupporters.

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