Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar Could Lose Voting Rights In Mumbai Cricket Association - Report

The members of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have called for a special General body meeting on July 29 to discuss several changes to its constitution.

The major talking points of the meeting include terminating the voting rights of former international players in the state association, allowing individuals above the age of 70 to hold posts in the MCA and the secretary should have more powers over the Chief Executive Officer.

MCA propose changes to Lodha Committee’s recommendations

The Lodha Committee’s recommendations asked every state association under BCCI to give voting rights to the former international players under their respective bodies. The Committee also barred individuals above 70 from holding positions in the state units and gave more powers to CEO to make the state associations more professional.

According to a report by The Indian Express, MCA issued a notice where they want the clubs under them as their members and abolish the voting rights of the former players. If this amendment by MCA is passed then prominent figures like Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar won’t be able to cast their vote in the association’s matters.

“No individual member like Patron members, donor members, etc. has any voting rights. Also the Lodha Committee had only recommended that International players should be granted memberships of the Association. Assigning voting rights to international cricketers would amount to altering the foundation of the applicant Association. However, international players can be Associate Members and shall be invited and shall attend the meeting and make their contributions/suggestions,” the MCA proposal states, as reported by The Indian Express.

“Disqualification on the basis of age is neither fair nor practical. There are many examples of administrators who have served the game of cricket beyond the age of 70 years. MCA owes much of its success to the great leadership of administrators who contributed to the Association even after they were 70 years old. MCA strongly feels that the game should not be deprived of their expertise,” the MCA explanation reads.

MCA can’t make any change to the constitution: Ex-India cricketer

Former Indian players rebuked MCA for making changes to the laws and asked them to consult Supreme Court first before proceeding with any further action.

“They can’t make any change to the constitution because as per the Supreme Court order, if any changes need to be made by any association, they will have to approach the Supreme Court first. Only after the Supreme Court gives its nod can the association make these changes,” a former Indian cricketer told The Indian Express.