NEW DELHI

Confusion in BCCI: Roy, Mathew front runners for interim prez

bcci-headoffice-reuters (File) BCCI head office | Reuters

Confusion reigned supreme in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with the Supreme Court ordering a purge of all office-bearers in the apex body and its state affiliates who fail the eligibility criteria as recommended by the Justice Lodha Committee. There was speculation all day as to who met the eligibility criteria to take over as the BCCI's interim president. Of all the five vice presidents, Gautam Roy from East Zone and T.C. Mathew, vice president from West Zone, are prime contenders to take up the post.

Gautam Roy has reportedly been called by Lodha Committee to Delhi. A minister in the previous Tarun Gogoi government of the Congress, it is reliably learn that Roy is hesitant about taking up the post. “He is not keen, because if he does, then he has to give an undertaking to ensure that he will get the reforms in place. He knows he cannot get it done,” said a source close to him in Assam. A politician, Roy meets the eligibility criteria set by SC in its order.

Roy is an old BCCI hand — he was earlier a vice president for three terms of 2 years each when Jagmohan Dalmiya was in power. He is also under 70. Mathew resigned in the evening as the president of the state association. In case Roy is unable to take up the responsibility, the baton will be passed on to him.

Among the other three vice presidents, C.K.Khanna, who represents central zone, is the senior most in terms of his entry into BCCI. Khanna has adverse mention in the four status reports filed by Justice Mukul Mudgal in the Delhi High Court. The Delhi HC is listening into the matter related to corruption and maladministration in Delhi Cricket.

Its final order is awaited any time now. Contempt of court action against Khanna, along with DDCA president S.K.Bansal, has been recommended by Mudgal for impeding and obstructing the administration of cricket in Delhi. The court had appointed Justice Mudgal to run the administration of cricket and conduct matches in the capital.

Dr Gangaraju of Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association — vice-president from south zone — only became a VP in N.Srinivasan's tenure. He is over 70. M.L.Nehru, vice president from North zone from Jammu and Kashmir, is also over 70 .

Cricket officials await the written copy of the order, which was read out by Justice D.Y.Chandrachud in the morning and passed by a three judge bench consisting of Chief Justice T.S.Thakur, Justice A.M.Khanwilkar and Justice Chandrachud.

The court, in its order, said, “The senior most Vice-President of BCCI shall perform the duties of the President and the Joint Secretary shall perform the duties of Secretary. Those of the office bearers of BCCI who are not disqualified in terms of clause (i) above (other than the President and Secretary) may continue, subject to their filing an unconditional undertaking before this Court within four weeks of the date of this order to abide by and implement the directions contained in the judgment dated 18 July 2016. Upon the committee of administrators as nominated by this Court assuming charge, the existing office bearers shall function subject to the supervision and control of the committee of administrators.”

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Topics : #BCCI

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