Vinod Rai suggests that BCCI runs a totally parallel administration

07/31/2018

Vinod Rai suggested that the BCCI superior officials run a totally parallel administration as he gave the example of the sting operation conducted on an official of the UPCA. Rai also defended the stance of the CoA against the recent criticism for the compensation package to domestic cricketers.

CoA president Vinod Rai is a former Indian IAS officer and served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Rai has always been firm on his stance on the Board of Control of Cricket in Indian ever since he was appointed as the head of the CoA in 2017. Rai along with historian Ramachandra Guha, banker Vikaram Limaye and former captain of women's cricket team Diana Edulji were elected by the Supreme Court to look after the BCCI's administration until formal elections were held, but later Guha resigned and Limaye had to leave the job as well.

There has been a never-ending tussle for power amongst both these governing bodies on various issues ranging from players’ salary to the allowance of the top of BCCI officials. And Rai suggested that most the issues arose due to the parallel nature of the administration of the BCCI as he offered the example of the recent Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association scandal.

"You see, they are a totally parallel administration. I will give you a classic example. A sting operation was done (involving an official of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association). We wanted to call for an explanation, but we were advised that ‘No, only the president can issue that order’. The president would nominate a commissioner for enquiry, [and he] had 48 hours to decide. we took an immediate decision and implemented it (the official—Akram Saifi—was suspended). There was no question of me consulting so and so because these issues require immediate action," Rai told The Week Magazine.

The CoA has been at necks of BCCI senior officials and have tried their best to ensure that one of the sporting world’s richest bodies perform their respective duties as per the book. But the BCCI is not one to shy away from a fight and they have not wasted any chance to get back at Vinod Rai and his colleagues. The recent criticism on the domestic cricketers' compensation package is a clear example of the same.

"It has been communicated to us. A lot of people said we were clueless. We prepared this compensation package and gave it to the BCCI finance committee on August 8, 2017. On various pretexts, from then to January 29 this year, they did not approve it. If BCCI officials understand cricket administration better, why did they not give us alternative suggestions?

"I sent them a reminder on February 18 and ultimately, on March 7, before the IPL was to start. I made it public by making unilateral decisions. They sat on it. Why had they not increased the remuneration since 2011? We came into the picture only in 2017;We were looking for inputs and the treasurer kept sitting on it. He was the convener of the finance committee. Mr Scindia (Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association chairperson) kept asking for clarifications, in all fairness," Rai added.

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