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BCCI learning the lessons of existence, the hard way

Kirti Azad is former India 1983 World Cup winning team all-rounder and serving Member of Parliament

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Over the years, BCCI had hard-sold itself as an arrogant and irredeemable organisation. Its office-bearers represented the crème of highly positioned politicians who were supported from below by small-time businessmen who had total control over state associations. The combination was supported by a well-oiled legal system, whereby highly paid lawyers kept tiring out detractors in lengthy and expensive court cases.

The fact that crores of rupees were spent on availing the most useless advice from the most expensive lawyers showed that BCCI knew the secret to perpetuating itself and, that of its office bearers. This trick was successful for decades, but like all good things must come to an end sometime, BCCI's luck has finally run out.

Their time-tested tactic of tiring out detractors through the misuse of legal process has boomeranged on them— trying out their game with the highest court of the country has caused their downfall. All this while, BCCI was sure that they were above the law of the country. Certain lawyer-politicians were egging them on to take on the highest court of the land, but thankfully, their bravado has been cryptically and tragically for them, cut short.

The court has called an end to the defiance of BCCI and following months of speculation and furore amid war between the BCCI and Lodha Panel, they have decided the future of cricket administration in the country.
In one stroke they have ordered the removal of the biggest obstructionist, Anurag Thakur as president of BCCI.

I had raised the issue of corruption in the organisation of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in the Parliament in 2010, subsequent to which a CBI investigation was ordered.

Suresh Kalmadi was arrested and stayed in jail for 10 months. There have also been disputes in the functioning of the Badminton Association of India and there have also been allegations of irregularities and mismanagement in National Sports Federations for Kabaddi, Wrestling, Boxing, Basketball, Hockey etc.

Now the Hon'ble Supreme Court, has found that there have been several irregularities and illegalities in the manner in which the chief administrator of cricket i.e. BCCI functioned in an opaque manner, which was not conforming to principles of transparency, good governance and fair play which were essential to uphold the institutional integrity of the administrator of cricket especially since it was the administrator of cricket that would send the team to represent the country at international events.

Chief Justice (Retd) RM Lodha, whose recommendations are salutary in nature, but are fundamental in achieving the goal of transparency and good governance in the bodies which are the administrators of sports in India.

Sports play a very important role in education, human resource development and also in unifying the country. They cannot be left in the hands of incompetent, irresponsible people against whom the highest court has to start perjury proceedings.

Sports loving Indians and the sportspersons have been fed up of corruption in sports. Twenty seven former Olympians, International sportspersons and Arjuna Awardees have come together under former Olympian and hockey captain, Ashok Dhyan Chand and son of legendary hockey player and have petitioned the Hon'ble Court to implement Justice Lodha Committee recommendations across all sporting disciplines.

We have cited the guarantee of fundamental rights of sportspersons under Article 14, Article 21 and Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India. Sports is a national unifier, and all social, cultural, regional, religious and caste identities are forgotten by the people in the course of sporting events, and only the national identity remains.

I am sure that today's Court judgement will sort out the mess in sports, once and for all. I thank the Supreme Court which has stepped in to define fairness, transparency and integrity in the running of BCCI. Other sports federations will have to follow soon.

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