Vinod Rai appointed head of four-member BCCI administration panel

Supreme Court
Supreme Court appoints 4-member panel led by Vinod Rai to oversee BCCI administration. Image Source: XtraTime

Internet Desk: The Supreme Court has announced a four member administration panel to run the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Monday. The four member panel includes former CAG Vinod Rai, historian Ramachandra Guha, ex-woman cricket captain Diana Edulji and Managing Director of IDFC Bank Vikram Limaye. Mr Rai will head the panel.

The apex court has also directed Mr Limaye and BCCI Joint Secretary Mr Amitabh Choudhary to represent the forthcoming ICC meeting which will take place in Dubai in the first week of February.

The court said CEO Rahul Johri will brief the Rai committee about the implementation or otherwise of the Justice Lodha Committee recommendations for organisational reforms in the BCCI.

The Supreme Court had initially sought names from amicus curiae Gopal Subramanian and Anil Diwan. Accordingly nine names were submitted to the Supreme Court for the appointment of administrators in the BCCI.

On January 24, the Supreme Court deferred the decision to announce the names of administrators till January 30 after BCCI and the central government successfully argued that they should also be allowed to give names in sealed covers for consideration.

The bench, comprising Justices Dipak Misra, A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, allowed BCCI to shortlist three names from among the existing office bearers who are not disqualified by following due procedure, to represent the Board in the ICC executive meeting to be held from February 2.

Asked Rai 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.”

Former India women captain Diana Edulji is excited with the new role. “I am honoured to have been assigned with the role by Supreme Court. They felt I am competent for this job. At the present scenario the image of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has got a beating. So the primary objective for us will be to cleanse the image,” said Edulji to xtratime.in

On being asked about her role, she said, “I do not know everyone in this panel except Ramachandra Guha. We will meet very soon after which I will know what exactly my role will be.”

It is a great day for women’s cricket in the country. Diana Edulji faced several hurdles during our time. But the BCCI has taken several positive steps to take the game forward. The former India women captain will look to carry on the good work.