Reform not just for the game but also for transparent functioning, SC tells BCCI
New Delhi, April 29: The Supreme Court on Friday took exception to Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) telling it that playing cricket with teams from states not known for playing cricket would be detrimental to the game's interest even as the court held that the BCCI needed to reform itself not just for the game but also to make its functioning transparent.
As senior counsel K.V.Vishwathan appearing for OCA told the court that it was detrimental for the game if they played with teams from states not playing cricket, a bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla asked: "How do you say that we will not play cricket with them. Playing with them and nurturing their talent is the right approach."
"To say (playing with them) is detrimental (to the game) is not enough, please demonstrate," said Chief Justice Thakur, asking would they say that they will not play with the team from a country that has just started playing cricket, say Afghanistan.
"If they (teams from northeast) play, they will be defeated. They will be out. What is your problem? If there are teams from Aruchal Pradesh, Mizoram or galand, they will be knocked out in the first round," the bench observed as Vishwathan said that if they are given full membership of BCCI, they will also participate in Ranji trophy matches.
Telling the senior counsel that "BCCI should reform itself not just in the interest of the game but for transparency", Chief Justice Thakur said a few years ago people used to laugh at the teams from Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and new entrant Afghanistan, but see Bangladesh cricket team today.
Asking OCA what was its problem with the suggestion that every state should have just one vote and in what way it affected the cricketing activities in Odisha, Chief Justice Thakur said: "Except for one person from Jharkhand who is the captian of the Indian team (M.S.Dhoni) do you have players from that state."
As the OCA told the court that level playing field in the participation and the functioning of the BCCI does not mean territorial area but the game playing ability and tradition, the bench asked for the list of the members of Intertiol Cricket Council (ICC).
As the list included the mes of the countries not at all known for playing cricket, the bench asked: "Have Russia ever played intertiol cricket? Does Bhutan have a team? Have you ever played a match with Bhutan?" IANS
