BCCI form committee to oversee cricket affairs in Rajasthan

A cricket match ongoing in Rajasthan

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formed an ad-hoc committee to look into the affairs of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, reports Wisden India.

The five-member committee will ensure everything runs smoothly and also see that the Rajasthan teams are given equal chance to participate in the BCCI tournaments in the upcoming domestic season.

Cricket in Rajasthan has been in a bad shape since due to the absence of a representative body in the state after, the Rajasthan Cricket Association was suspended following Lalit Modi's election as President.

A timeline of cricket administration in Rajasthan

On May 6, 2014, Lalit Modi was re-elected as the President of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), while living in London. Immediately after his election, the BCCI banned the RCA and elected an ad-hoc body to carry administrative function of RCA. Lalit Modi took the legal route to fight BCCI's declaration.On 9 March 2015, a group led by Amin Pathan moved a no-confidence motion against Lalit Modi, who was until then, the President of RCA. According to the Rajasthan State Sports Act, a minimum attendance of 23 was required to make a quorum. 23 people attended the meeting, out of whom 17 voted against Modi. Only one vote in Modi's support was counted: five other votes were discarded as disputed.

The committee formed consists of Amrit Mathur, the former Railway Sports Control Board official, who was named the coordinator of the committee with CK Khanna, the BCCI vice-president, Snehal Parikh, the in-charge secretary of Baroda Cricket Association, Milind Kanmadikar, the joint secretary of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, and Dr. PV Shetty, the joint secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, the President of BCCI said in a statement that this will ensure interest in the game and will also keep players on top of the priority list, “This step is in line with the BCCI philosophy of keeping the interest of cricket and the players on top priority.”

“Like any other side playing domestic cricket in India, Rajasthan cricketers will have all the facilities, exposure and opportunities to perform and excel.”

The problems between the BCCI and RCA have left the players high and dry and BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said the committee was formed to protect the interests of the players.

“The BCCI is committed to support cricket in Rajasthan and ensure that players at all levels are able to play and participate in BCCI tournaments in a positive environment,” Thakur said.

Rajasthan cricket has been undergoing a huge power struggle since Modi’s ascendancy to the post of RCA president was filled with controversy. Modi is fighting a legal battle with current RCA officials who claim they have majority support.