The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that by suggesting BCCI changes, it does not intend to pull the cash rich body back.
The court made it clear that they have no intentions of reducing the popularity of the board or hinder its growth, but just wants structural changes that would make the functioning of the cricket body more transparent.
“We don’t want to reduce your (BCCI) popularity, we want you to do better. That is why we appointed a committee to suggest structural reforms. You should not apprehend that reforms will pull you back,” a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur said.
The bench, also comprising Justice FMI Kalifulla, said BCCI is already half way through to reforms as it has already implemented some of the recommendations made by Justice RM Lodha panel.
The apex court’s observation came when senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said there was time when playback singer Lata Mangeshkar had to do a concert to raise funds for cricket players.
“BCCI has grown revenue-wise and is paying 70 percent of revenue generated through world cup matches played in the India to International Cricket Council (ICC). Several International standard stadiums have been constructed across the country to promote cricketing activity,” Venugopal said.
He said Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament has no competitor in the world and is a great success, which has projected India worldwide.
“It provides opportunity and exposure to the young cricketers of the country to play with foreign players,” Venuopal said while listing the progress of BCCI over the years.
He said BCCI has addressed various issues which were recommended by Lodha panel like those related to conflict of interest, appointment of ombudsman and CEO, independent audit of accounts and establishment of an anti-corruption unit.
“We will correct ourselves so that in future there are no allegations and no discrepancies take place,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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