Members tell CCI that stopping entry into clubhouse is derogation of their rights.
The management of Cricket Club of India, it seems, is in for trouble. A ‘majority’ of the club members are in arms against the management’s plan to rent out the Brabourne Stadium for Indian Premier League matches at the cost of their ‘fundamental rights’.
At an Open House called by president Badal Mittal here on Saturday, many members categorically told the executive committee that it cannot take away their right to enter the clubhouse in the name of cricket.
The executive committee has put forth a proposal before the members that IPL matches can be organised at the Brabourne Stadium if they agree to sacrifice 50 per cent of the clubhouse space to the organisers. It has offered an alternative accommodation for the members in one of the stands. In this contest the management has called an Extraordinary General Meeting on February 27. Going by the mood at the Open House, one gets a feeling that members may not agree to the proposal although none of them is opposed to cricket.
“We love cricket but we would not like to lose our rights to an outsider,” said Shardul Thacker. He was one among the many who have suggested that the North Stand should be refurbished for the use of the IPL and franchisee members.
Rabindra Jaisinghani agreed. “It is a cricket stadium and we would certainly like to have good cricket over here but not at the cost of our rights. We have been the members for 30 years and I wouldn’t want to sacrifice my rights,” he said. He also cautioned the executive committee that it can amend bye-law 145 to regulate the functioning of the club but it cannot amend it in derogation of the rights of the members.
Mittal said if the members wanted to have big time cricket in the Brabourne Stadium they would have to agree with the terms and conditions of the BCCI and the IPL. But one member suggested that big time cricket can be also organised by hosting the Indian Cricket League matches. “If the BCCI doesn’t agree to our terms then we can ask the ICL to hold matches here,” said Viral Mehta.
Some members also objected to the condition that the ground cannot be used before, during or after the match. “Before or during the match we cannot enter the ground. “But for how long,” one member asked.
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