Supreme Court slams BCCI, says it is 'monopolising' cricket

The Supreme Court on Monday accused BCCI of "monopolising" cricket and also held the richest cricket body accountable for running a "prohibitory regime" across the country.

"Several youngsters in the country want to make their career in cricket and want to be Dhonis and Kohlis due to the glamour and glitz associated with it. They do not get equal opportunity if they are not on the right side of the BCCI. Sometimes they are prevented by the people at the helm of affairs," the bench said.

"You (BCCI) are running a prohibitory regime which is spread across the country. If a player has to play cricket he has to be with you. You have complete monopoly. You have monopoly over members and you prevent people from becoming members."

Headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, the bench appointed senior advocate Gopal Subramanium as amicus curiae to examine how the Lodha panel's recommendations, which have been resisted by the BCCI, could be implemented.

The bench laid the blame on the wealthy body for curbing opportunities. "Suppose a state from North-East wants to be a member in BCCI. You are not allowing it to become a member because your writ lies there also. You don't want to give them equal opportunity. You have complete monopoly over Team India because you select them and don't want to give the right to anyone else. We need to balance things," it said.

The bench also told the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), which was against the one state-one vote formula, that failing to fall in line could cost their membership. "We make it clear that we are not concerned with any state cricket associations but if they want to associate with BCCI, then they have to reform themselves. You will have to fall in line and reform yourselves or you will lose your membership."

The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA), which had opposed the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel, was also pulled up the bench. "If any cricket club or association wants to do anything, we are least bothered. We are not here to reform every cricketing club. But if any institution which is discharging public duty like BCCI, then any organization or association associated with it will have to reform itself," the court said.

Implementing the one state-one vote policy will make states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, which have four and three associations respectively, left with only a single permanent member in the BCCI.

In Maharashtra, apart from Maharashtra Cricket Association, the other boards with full memberships are Mumbai Cricket Association, Cricket Club of India and Vidharbha Cricket Association. In Gujarat, the three permanent members are BCA, Gujarat Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association.

The new permanent members will come from the north-eastern states like Mizoram and Manipur, where cricket has less prominence.

The BCA had earlier told the court that the one state-one vote system would lead to "enormous politics and pressure" within the cricket body. TNCA had also said that these recommendations would create an inequality among equals.