The BCCI on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the cooling-off period will deprive cricket of worthy administrators and the country cannot afford to lose experienced individuals, who can take the sport to new heights.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the BCCI, submitted before a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli that as its constitution exists today, there is a cooling-off period and if a person is an office-bearer of state cricket association for one term and BCCI for one term, then that person would have to go for cooling-off.
As the bench queried Mehta that he was saying the cooling-off period will be only for two terms in the BCCI and tenure in state cricket association would not be considered, the SG, citing the proposed amendments in the constitution, said the concern of the court that no one should be perennially in charge is taken care of and also the experience gathered at state association is not wasted.
Relook at 70-plus criteria
On the aspect of disqualification, Mehta said there are several persons who have contributed to cricket, but they are also working in furtherance of other games.
“I don’t want to take names, but one of the finest cricketers is now doing tremendous service in golf,” he said, adding that the restriction of 70 years should also go away, regarding representation in ICC.
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Citing the constitution, the bench noted if a person is an office-bearer of another sports association, then that person should not be part of the cricket association. “If you want to be in cricket, then focus on cricket…the same person should not be there at more than one place,” it orally observed. It also told Mehta, 70 years is an old age, though there are doctors and lawyers who are still doing well after 70 years?
As Mehta said that the ICC has no age restriction, the bench said: “Do not tell us that in Cricket Australia or ECB, there are people over 70 years.”
State and BCCI are different
On the aspect of cooling-off period, Mehta submitted the proposed amendment suggests that the term served at the state cricket association should not be considered for cooling-off period. Mehta said both state cricket associations and BCCI have different sets of rules and regulations.
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