The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Kapil ceases to be NCA Chairman

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Kapil ceases to be NCA Chairman

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: Kapil Dev has ceased to be the Chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) a little over a month before his term would have expired and come up for extension.

Ajay Shirke has been appointed as acting chairman of the NCA and a new chairman will be appointed at the BCCI AGM in Mumbai.

This came to pass after the BCCI deemed Kapil Dev to be working at cross purposes to his post with the NCA in the last three months, aligning with the Zee Group promoted Indian Cricket League.

The BCCI Treasurer N. Srinivasan, never faltering in the course of his 30 minute briefing of the media after the BCCI’s Working Committee and Special General Body meeting (SGM), steered clear of commenting specifically on the ejection of Kapil Dev from the NCA and all other committees he is associated in advisory capacity to the BCCI.

“I don’t to want comment on that,” replied Mr. Srinivasan when asked about Kapil Dev.

Resolutions

The BCCI at its SGM here adopted a handful of resolutions, one of which pertained to players, administrators, officials and members of the BCCI joining league with private organisations.

Revealing the gist of the resolution, Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said that players, administrators, officials were free to make a choice between the BCCI and any private organisation, but those opting for the latter would not be given any benefit and will not be connected with any activity of the BCCI.

Elaborating on the rationale, Mr. Srinivasan said: “Every individual has the right to associate with BCCI or any other organisation.

“If he chooses to be part of any other organisation then it is he who is leaving. It is not that the Board is banning someone. If an individual chooses to associate himself with someone else, it is his decision and we wish him luck. But he will not be a part of BCCI activities or derive any benefit from the BCCI.

“It’s the player who is deciding to leave the BCCI tournaments. We are not deciding. But you can’t have a foot in both places. And once a player has made his choice, he is there.”

Mr. Srinivasan said the BCCI was doing a good job and its development programme covered the length and breadth of the country. “Mr. Pawar has written to all the member units to improve facilities. In every State you have hundreds of players. We don’t want to make too much of this. It (players joining the ICL) is not at all a reflection of the administration of cricket in State associations. Everybody is aware of the players who have left. The players have gone and they themselves have stated that they have been offered large sums of money. The bench strength is strong. There’s tremendous opportunity for the younger players.”

Immediate effect

The BCCI’s resolution came into effect immediately after it was passed and as a result of which Kapil Dev ceased to be the NCA Chairman. After India’s World Cup exit, he was part of the select group of former India captains whom the BCCI President had appointed as Cricket Advisory Committee. The players who have signed a three-year contract with the ICL and other former cricketers would be affected by the tough stand taken by the BCCI.

Other decisions taken at the Working Committee and SGM were: (1) to nominate a President-elect (for 2008-2011) at the AGM in Mumbai in September end (2) to employ five national selectors from September 2008 (3) that all Union Territories are to be attached to geographically closest full members (4) to establish an independent world class NCA at Bangalore (5) to create an indoor cricket academy in New Delhi (6) to collect archival material for a state of the art museum at cost of Rs. 10 crores at the Cricket Centre, Mumbai (7) to video record all senior domestic tournaments as a part of the umpire’s solution (8) to enter an agreement with Cricket Australia for a training and development programme for umpires (9) to earmark Rs. 6-7 crore for the development of women’s cricket.

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