CoA orders BCCI to announce Champions Trophy squad immediately
The Committee of Administrators, today, have instructed the BCCI to convene a selection committee to finalise the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The CoA went on the clarify that the BCCI did not have the authority to take a decision on the team's participation in an ICC event.
The CoA have written Amitabh Choudhary a letter in which they have questioned the board's acting secretary as to why the team for the Champions Trophy had not been submitted despite the April 25 deadline. The COA also went on to question the manner in which BCCI negotiated the revenue model with the ICC in Dubai recently.Ā
"It would be appropriate to make all necessary preparations for ensuring that Team India can successfully defend its title in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 which commences on 1st June 2017. You are aware that the squad representing India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was to be submitted by 25th April 2017 but the squad has not even been selected as yet. Please convene a meeting of the selection committee for selecting the squad immediately. The squad can then be submitted to the ICC without prejudice to BCCI's legal rights," the CoA wrote in a letter addressed to Choudhary.
The COA went on to blast the board officials for creating a "negative" atmosphere before the tournament when they should beĀ supporting the team.Ā
"Team India should be provided with a supportive environment to showcase Indian cricket instead of being surrounded
In what appears to be a response to a BCCI official's statement about Zimbabwe getting India's share, the COA told the BCCI that India had achieved its position in global cricket by consensus and not by using a "confrontational approach".
"The focus should be on enabling our team to achieve even greater heights and further laurels, which will automatically attract higher revenues," the letter added.Ā
"The BCCI appears to have lost sight of the fact that it attained a pre-eminent position in the ICC not by a combative approach but by building consensus and ensuring a positive image including by helping other cricket boards in their time of need."
Addressing the legal notice that the Indian board has drafted for the ICC, the CoA questioned the reasoning behind the letter, considering that all members of the BCCI have not given it a go ahead.
"In the above circumstances, there is no reason why any notice should be issued to the ICC before the members of BCCI have had the opportunity to discuss the matter and take a well-considered decision as mentioned in our email dated 3rd May 2017," the letter further said.
"We do not believe that BCCI's legal rights will be prejudiced in any manner if a notice is not issued to the ICC prior to the SGM. A decision of such magnitude needs to be taken after following due process and the correct forum for that is the SGM. The Committee of Administrators will consider the matter of issuing a notice to the ICC only after the SGM takes a decision.
"We believe that the BCCI has not yet given the possibility of a negotiated outcome a fair chance. As communicated to you during our meeting on 21st April 2017, the resolutions passed
