There is very little doubt that cricket in India has drawn millions of fans for decades.
Indians have worshipped the game like no other nation and even in the fast-paced modern world have remained loyal, taking time out to watch a five-day Test or an express Twenty20 game.
Though the game has been a source of joy for many, the allegations of betting and corruption, especially in the money pumped Indian Premier League (IPL) have been causes of concern.
In 2013, several players, IPL team owners and officials of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) were accused of betting and spot-fixing.
Various litigations were initiated and recently the Indian Supreme Court in its decision lashed out at the BCCI, the sole body governing cricket and related activities in India. Though the BCCI is a ‘private’ body and does not per se fall within the control of the central or any of the state governments in India, the court said the BCCI carries out important “public function” such as organising cricket activities in India and selecting cricket teams for various competitive games, including the national team.
The Court ruled that since the BCCI is performing various important public functions it is amenable to “writ jurisdiction” of the High Courts and ordinary citizens would have right to approach High Courts for violation of legal rights.
With respect to the allegations of betting, team officials of two IPL franchises, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, were found involved in betting after “scientific evaluation” of data proved it. These officials, who were privy to sensitive information, were found guilty of misusing their position to gain monetary benefits.
An important question before the Court was that of a conflict of interest situation created by the big boss of the BCCI, Narayanaswami Srinivasan. While being the president of BCCI, Srinvisan also happens to be shareholder of India Cements Ltd., a company that owned one of the IPL teams. This was specifically done by amending the BCCI rules to allow its officials to hold shares in the team.
Being an administrator, responsible for regulating the game and also being involved in the performance of one of the teams in an event conducted by BCCI, led to clear conflict of interests and the Court found it to be prejudicial to the game. The Supreme Court struck down the rule allowing BCCI officials to hold commercial interest in matches or events conducted by BCCI.
This decision has caught Srinivasan in two positions where he ought not to be. Srinivasan now has to either give up the post of the president or his shares in the IPL team. Moreover, for individuals caught in betting activities, an independent committee has been appointed to decide their fate and also of the teams they are associated with.
This committee has also been vested with powers to recommend changes in the functioning of BCCI to make it “more responsive to the expectations of the public at large and to bring transparency in practices and procedures” it follows.
BCCI, which until recently had remained largely free and an impregnable entity, has found some clips to its wings now. This decision is an attempt to clean up the game and would help in restoring the faith of common public, who in millions worship the game day after day.
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