BCCI set to decide on Champions Trophy participation

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has told the BCCI that dialogue with the ICC, not confrontation, must be the guiding principle in Sunday’s crucial Special General Meeting.

The CoA reminded the Board that it would approach the Apex Court if the BCCI exercised its rights mentioned in the Members Participation Agreement (MPA) and withdrew from the ICC Champions Trophy.

In meetings with the full members in New Delhi on Saturday, the CoA said there was no reason to get agitated about the perceived diminishing of the BCCI’s influence and the slashing of its revenue share at the recent ICC meetings in Dubai. The panel advised the BCCI to focus on certain administrative (governance) changes, rather than raising the revenue model concerns alone.

“We had a very cordial meeting with the CoA,” three full members told

The Hindu . “We were told that the full members of the BCCI, and the Special General Meeting (SGM) is supreme, and that it can take any decision at the meeting tomorrow [Sunday], but we should avoid taking an extreme decision.

“The CoA’s advice to us was generally in line with the letter it wrote to all members a few days ago. They also heard our point of view with regard to the implementation of the Justice Lodha Committee reforms. They believe that the BCCI members’ concerns can be shared with the CoA and all can approach the Supreme Court with a common agenda.”

The CoA has already asked the BCCI to create a healthy environment for India to defend its Champions Trophy crown and asked joint secretary Amitabh Choudhary to select the team for the eight-nation tournament. “There could be some voices sharing the view of a pull-out, but we feel the members in general are ready to take a cautious decision,” said a West Zone representative.

It is understood that a large group of members are not in favour serving a notice on the ICC to rectify the breach caused to the MPA the BCCI signed with the ICC in 2014. “This option can be used at a later time,” said a member. “The BCCI has been given to understand that the ICC (Shashank Manohar) has agreed to consider changing a few clauses in the administrative structure.”

The revoking of the MPA has long-term repercussions. Team India will miss not just the Champions Trophy next month but all ICC events till 2023. The BCCI is the host of the 2021 Champions Trophy and the 2023 World Cup.