BCCI calls a meeting with the NCA without informing its chairman

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been embroiled in yet another controversy. This time it’s regarding a sub-committee meeting of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in the capital on Friday. The Chairman of the latter, Niranjan Shah has alleged that he was not informed of the move, in spite of holding the highest rank within the NCA.

The roots of the complication lie in BCCI’s eagerness to avoid a conflict with the Lodha Committee recommendations. Shah has addressed a letter to the BCCI Secretary, Amitabh Chaudhary. The letter elaborates on Shah being unaware of the meeting and calls for it to be postponed.

NCA Chairman cries foul

In his letter to the BCCI Secretary, Shah wrote, “I am surprised that a meeting of NCA has been called on September 15 and notice of the same has not been sent to me even though I am the chairman of NCA, officially constituted by the BCCI.” On being asked about how he was planning to tackle being ignored and avoided, Shah has said, “What can I do if they do something like this. Amitabh (Chaudhary) is yet to reply to my letter. I will certainly speak to my lawyers and see what can be done if they go ahead with the meeting.”

A BCCI official revealed the reason for this move to PTI saying, “Niranjan Shah’s attendance would mean BCCI again violating Lodha Committee diktat. The secretary didn’t want to take a chance.”

Shah had previously been appointed as the NCA chairman. However, it was in violation of Lodha Committee recommendations as he is above 70 years of age. Hence, the top brass of the governing body is keen to evade a showdown with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) and has decided to exclude Shah from the proceedings.