Pay-hike, Olympics on the agenda as BCCI set to meet COA

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) and BCCI office-bearers will meet in Delhi on Wednesday and the inclusion of cricket in the 2024 Olympics will be one of the talking points. Apart from that, an increase in the compensation of domestic players will also be taken into notice.

Other important subjects that will keep both the bodies occupied are: Managers for the India U-19 and India ‘A’ teams, list of commentators ( home season), IPL 2018, representation made by Mohammad Azharuddin (for his pending dues) and the Affiliation Committee’s report on Mizoram. During the meeting on 22 July, the COA had raised the issue of cricket’s inclusion at the Olympics, and it was believed that the BCCI members should vote their opinion.

U-19 and India-A team managers

The COA is very keen on setting up the entire structure in a professional manner. the India U-19 and India ‘A’ managers will get professional contracts via advertisements and interviews. It has also been put to light that the CoA didn’t like the manner in which former Jharkhand State Cricket Association secretary Rajesh Verma was appointed as the manager for the India U-19 team to England.

Cricket’s inclusion at Olympics

The COA also encouraged the BCCI to take a call on the same without much delay, as they felt it is a long term policy and hence will be ideal for the members to decide why they opposed it previously and the if they wish to accept the initiative now. According to a BCCI official, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) whereabouts clause could be a major factor in making a decision. If cricket is included at the Olympics then BCCI will have to sign it, which has been opposed by the players as they feel it violates their privacy.

One BCCI official made a point regarding the ‘contradiction’ between the Olympic Charter and the Lodha Committee recommendations. “To participate in the Olympics, the BCCI will have to sign the Olympic Charter and accept its rules and by-laws. The Olympic Charter doesn’t have an age cap of 70 years for office-bearers. The Lodha Committee recommendation doesn’t allow it. So there’s a massive contradiction,” he said. The ICC, meanwhile, is waiting for BCCI’s decision.

Increase in compensation

The BCCI is also working on a better compensation package for the domestic players, even though nothing has been fixed at the moment. Cricketer Harbhajan Singh had earlier wrote a letter to then India coach Anil Kumble, highlighting the financial condition at the domestic level.