New Delhi:
The BCCI AGM, which was held for the first time after 2017, made some key decisions in Mumbai. The AGM watered down the tenure clause which was set by the Lodha Panel, essentially paving the way for Sourav Ganguly, the current president of the BCCI to be at the helm for six years. However, for all the decisions taken in the AGM, it needs the approval of the Supreme Court and the decision as to whether Ganguly can be at the helm for six years might be decided on December 3. However, Ganguly made a major decision after the end of the AGM during a press conference.
In a major development, Ganguly announced the end of the tenure for the MSK Prasad-led selection panel. Along with Prasad, the likes of Jatin Paranjpe, Gagan Khoda, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh's tenure have also ended. Ganguly has gone by the old constitution that has a provision of a maximum of four-year term for the selection committee. The amended constitution had a maximum five-year term.
While Prasad and Khoda were appointed in 2015, Paranjpe, Sarandeep and Gandhi joined in 2016 but as per the BCCI chief, none of the panel members would continue. "Tenures are finished. You cannot go beyond tenure. They have done a good job," Ganguly said. The Indian team enjoyed success during the five-man panel's tenure with the positives far outweighing the negatives, but it often found itself at the receiving end of relentless criticism owing to their limited international careers collectively.
Ganguly stressed the need for a robust anti-corruption system to be put in place so that incidents which took place in the Karnataka Premier League are not repeated. In the process, he announced that the KPL was put on hold for the next season. "We've to get the anti-corruption system right. It's hard to stop tournaments based on who's being approached. KPL(Karnataka Premier League) is on hold now.If this doesn't stop, we'll have to do something," Ganguly said.
In the AGM, BCCI secretary Jay Shah was named the Board's representative to attend future meetings of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) chief executives committee. The date and venue of the next ICC CEC meeting are not yet out. BCCI CEO Rahul Johri was the Board representative for these meetings when the its administration was being handled by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Shah is the son of union home minister Amit Shah. Ganguly said they were going by the rules.
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"BCCI's decision on Board's representative at ICC Chief Executives Committee meeting will be taken in a few days. But, the rule is that BCCI secretary represents BCCI," Ganguly said.
