The Board of Control for Cricket in India is all set to host its first Annual General Meeting in three years on December 1 in Mumbai. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the board will propose a constitutional amendment which could result in an extension of tenure of the current president Sourav Ganguly.
BCCI calls for changes
The BCCI secretary Jay Shah apparently sent out a notice to all the members of the board. The list has 12 points that will be agenda for the upcoming AGM. One of the major points that the BCCI members are set to revisit is the rule of the cooling-off period. The agenda will also discuss to limit the powers of the executives including the Chief Executive Officer. Another proposed change suggests an office-bearer or a member of the apex council member over 70 years of age will be considered disqualified. It also calls for appointments of the new ombudsman and ethics officer, the new cricket committees including the Cricket Advisory Committee and recommendations of the Apex and Governing Councils as well.
Ganguly and Shah may stay for the next three years
The most important point in the proposed list is certainly the one related to the cooling-off period. The cooling-off period basically does not allow an office-bearer who has held a position for two successive terms in the BCCI or a state association to contest another election until a mandate three-year break is taken. This is why Ganguly’s first stint as the board president should end in next 10 months as he was the Cricket Association of Bengal chief until recently. Along with Ganguly, even Shah will be able to complete a three-year term in office if the rule gets changed.
However, according to the proposed amendment, a president or secretary of the BCCI who has served for two successive terms will not be allowed to contest again until the three-year cooling-off period is over. This will not be applicable for anyone else who has held positions in state associations.
