Ravi Shastri opposes six-year cooling-off period for ex-cricketers

Since the release of the Lodha Committee's report in January this year, the BCCI has been defending its position that some of the recommendations would damage Indian cricket. However, the Supreme Court on July 18 upheld the committee's report, making it mandatory for the BCCI to implement the reforms by setting two deadlines for the BCCI and all state associations - September 30 and December 30.

Speaking about the six-year cooling period for former players to join the BCCI, the former Indian captain questioned how this would benefit anyone who wants to join administration.

"Why would I want to join the BCCI? Why would any player want to join the BCCI? If I have an idea that is something constructive that I can do, contribute in three years you are telling me to go. What can anyone achieve in three years? How do I know the guy after [me will be] competent enough? If I have done a competent job, I should be respected for my competency. Six years is no harm. After that, if you have to sit out for three years come back for another six, fair enough, "Shastri told Sanjay Manjrekar during an interaction that was part of India's 500th Test celebrations, reported ESPN Cricinfo.

Shastri also opposed the Lodha committee's reform which recommends a 70-year plus age cap for the BCCI officials.

“We have got a couple of guys in the board [who are] 70-plus but then, forget a youngster, they'll give anyone from any field a run for their money. I am not targeting anyone or anything. I have seen them working, people know who I am talking about. They are outstanding,” he said.

Shastri also backed the five-member national selection panel, which the BCCI has appointed recently instead of the three-member panel suggested by the committee.

"When I played the game, I thought three selectors was enough. But today the way the game has evolved, with the three formats of the game, the interest that exists in the country, the combined number of people that play the game in India is more than the population of all the countries that play cricket together," he said. "So if Australia has three selectors that is fine - they have 17-20 million people. Here you are asking the poor guy too much. He will get serious travel miles. He will go from one end to other end of the country and still not be able to do the job. I think five is still in order," he told.

The former allrounder also felt that the complete implementation of the reforms will lead to “total chaos” in Indian cricket.

"We want Indian cricket to carry on. We don't want it to go back by five years. We don't want this team to suffer after five years. There will be total chaos. Other teams will get the upper hand. And then again you will have to try and climb up the ladder."