BCCI to go back to rotation policy

From now on venues will start hosting matches as per their turn, like it used to be in the pre-N Srinivasan (above) days.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided, in its working committee meeting that took place a few days ago, to restore the rotation policy in terms of allocating matches to member associations around the country. Hence, from now on venues will start hosting matches as per their turn, like it used to be in the pre-N Srinivasan days.

The matter was raised by many members during the working committee meeting in Kolkata and was brought to the notice of president Jagmohan Dalmiya. Their main concern was the haphazard and biased allocation of matches during Srinivasan’s reign.

Niranjan Shah, who is chairman of tours and fixtures committee and attended the meeting as an invitee, said it was important for each member association to get a fair and equal chance to host international matches. “Many members raised the issue of allotting ODI games. We all know what has happened over the past two years and we don’t want such a thing to be repeated again,” Shah said.

Under Srinivasan’s tenure, many state associations were rewarded for their loyalty towards the former chief during his tough times.

Since 2013, India played host to West Indies, England, Australia and Sri Lanka. During these bilateral series, Kochi (Kerala Cricket Association) was given four ODIs, Jharkhand Cricket Association (JCA) three while Visakhapatnam (Andhra Cricket Association) got two ODIs. It coincided with the time when Srinivasan needed support from these associations to tide over problems within the board.

“The committee looks into the details of the upcoming series to finalize the venues. The changes are made from time to time, looking at the teams that are coming and which centres will be best-suited for them. For example, if Pakistan come, they can’t come to Mumbai. There’s a problem. If a small team comes for a Test, then we cannot use Mumbai or Chennai. The time has come for the tours and fixtures committee to look into this,” said BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

The problem though is not a new one, and many state associations had written letters to the BCCI in the past, but all in vain. Of the lot, it was the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) which was affected the most after its president Jyotiraditya Scindia had asked for Srinivasan’s resignation post the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

The last time Indore’s Holkar Stadium saw international action was back in December 2011, when India and the West Indies met in an ODI. Gwalior’s Roop Singh Stadium, in fact, hasn’t hosted a high-profile contest since the time South Africa were in action back in February 2010.

Incidentally, both those matches witnessed significant landmarks with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar scoring ODI double-centuries.

“The last regime had a clear bias when it came to allocation of games. They never followed the rotation policy and allotted games to whoever they wanted to. It was more like giving out rewards to those who supported Srinivasan,” said a member of a state association who was present at the meeting.

The BCCI will be hosting South Africa for a full tour at home after the monsoons and Shah insisted he will ensure each association gets games as per their turn. “There will be no bias towards any association,” he said.

Patel ousted

Meanwhile, in another blow to Srinivasan, his close aide and former secretary Sanjay Patel, was removed from his primary membership by the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) on the basis of alleged financial irregularities. Anshuman Gaekwad, secretary of BCA said there was a sanction of Rs 25 lakh for renovation of the dressing room and the BCA office. However, the bills ran up to Rs 89 lakh. And no approval was sought for spending such an amount.

Patel, though, said everyone in the BCA knew about the money spent.

“I am going to file a defamation case against the BCA. I will certainly move the court for this. When Rs 89 lakh was spent, everyone from Chirayu Amin to all other members were aware of it. The decision was taken after BCA president Samarjeeth Gaekwad had adjourned the meeting,” he said.

If Patel’s primary membership remains cancelled, it means he will not be allowed to get back into the BCCI fold again.

Loyalty bonus

Which associations got what under Srinivasan’s tenure

Kochi:
India vs England (Jan 15, 2013)
India vs West Indies (Nov 24, 2013)
India vs West Indies (Oct 8, 2014)

Ranchi:
India vs England (Jan 19, 2013)
India vs Australia (Oct 23, 2013)
India vs Sri Lanka (Nov 16, 2014)

Vizag:
India vs West Indies (Nov 24, 2013)
India vs West Indies (Oct 13, 2014)