Sharad Pawar ‘happy’ to step down

Sharad Pawar addresses the media on Sunday. (Photo: Debasish Dey)

The Mumbai Cricket Association has agreed to implement the Supreme Court verdict as per Justice R.M. Lodha panel recommendations in Toto. MCA president Sharad Pawar set the precedent to retire but not immediately as the MCA led by him will start the process to redraw its constitution within six months to align with the judgement.

“We discussed the Supreme Court judgement on the basis of Lodha Committee recommendations in depth today. We decided to unanimously approve all the recommendations communicated by the Supreme Court,” said Pawar after the MCA’s managing committee meeting here on Sunday.

Pawar welcomed the arbitration panel of the Supreme Court in which there are some members who are above 70.

“Since as per Supreme Court decision no (BCCI) office bearer can be over the age of 70 and hold the office for more than nine years (cumulatively). I fall in both the categories. So I should not continue and I am the happiest person to retire. As you know during my time in the BCCI (as its president) and MCA, several things have been accomplished in support of cricket,” the 75-year-old former ICC and BCCI president added.

“I respect the judiciary. The Supreme Court has taken a decision and I respect that. In the arbitration panel of the Supreme Court there are judges who are above 70 years of age. I am happy that their vast experience and knowledge is available to the Supreme Court,” he quipped.

Pawar said now he will work on amending the Mumbai CA constitution with six months as per time limit set by the Justice Lodha panel.

“Now we will first redraw the constitution, get the draft approved by the managing committee before calling a Special General Meeting to get the amended constitution passed. We have six months’ time,” he said.

The MCA also has no problem in having voting power on rotational basis as the Maharashtra Cricket Association and the Vidarbha Cricket Associ-ation also are from the same State but Pawar said he would seek clarification from the BCCI on this point.

“When Mumbai gets a chance to be represented, our jurisdiction will extend all over Maharashtra and not confined only to Mumbai and its surrounding areas like Navi Mumbai and Thane as is the case now. We will then have to include players from the rest of Maharashtra in our teams. When Maharashtra gets its chance they can include Mumbai players. We need clarification on this point from the BCCI which can then seek the same from the Justice Lodha Committee,” he said.

Pawar said despite the verdict affecting most of its managing committee members the transition would be smooth.

“The MCA will be able to execute all the recommendations and there will be smooth transition. I didn’t talk to anyone in the BCCI but don’t see any difficulty.

“I am only worried about ICC whose constitution clearly says that there should be no government representative in cricket bodies. But the BCCI already has Services, Universities and Railways as its members. I don’t think Shashank Manohar (ICC chairman) will take objection,” he quipped.

Pawar also informed that MCA vice-president Dilip Vengsarkar authorised to look into Pravin Amre’s conflict of interest issue.