State associations praise SC verdict on Lodha reforms

Many state associations that included Mumbai and Saurashtra praised the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate their voting rights in the BCCI on Thursday.

Making amendments to its earlier order on the ‘one state, one vote’ policy for BCCI members, the SC granted full memberships to the states of Mumbai, Saurashtra, Vadodara, and Vidarbha, whose voting rights were scrapped by the Lodha committee.

The Mumbai Cricket Association termed the order as “historic” and expressed their joy in getting back their full membership in the board.

“We are thankful to the Supreme Court for restoring our voting right. Mumbai has a rich cricketing legacy and it’s nice to get our vote back. It is a historical judgement,” said Prof Dr. Unmesh Khanvilkar, joint secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).

“It’s a welcome judgement which has come, which has done justice to all these associations which have contributed a lot to development of cricket in all these years and it would have been a travesty of justice had such members been only full members by rotation,” Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) President Anand Jaiswal told PTI.

“Imagine Mumbai is left out or Vidarbha, which is Ranji and Irani Trophy winner (is) not a full member (of the Board), it could have been a travesty of justice, so the Supreme Court has corrected that and has done proper justice for development of cricket,” he added.

Also Read: BCCI: Supreme Court approves draft Constitution with some changes, shelves ‘one-state-one-vote’ policy

The Joint Secretary of Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Madhukar Worah, was also excited with the SC verdict which granted his association the full membership.

“It is welcoming to keep the full membership in BCCI. We are thankful to the Supreme Court,” said Worah to PTI.

Meanwhile, the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) secretary in-charge Snehal Parikh welcomed the SC order and called it an amazing achievement for the state cricket.

“This is amazing. It’s an acknowledgment of the contribution. Baroda has contributed so many players and this a recognition of the contribution of Baroda to Indian cricket,” Parikh said.

Former BCCI secretary and secretary of the SCA Niranjan Shah also joined the others in hailing the decision by SC and added it will be a major boost to the state cricket body.

“It is gratifying that Hon’ble Supreme Court today has kindly considered prayer of SCA on removing stipulation of the condition of one state one vote,” he said in a  media statement.

“This will enable SCA to continue its voice for the growth, development and significant contribution to national and international cricket,” added Mr. Shah.