Vinod Rai suggests that BCCI runs a totally parallel administration

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.

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.