Form Champions Trophy squad immediately: CoA to BCCI

The court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) has directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to select the Champions Trophy Squad immediately, after days of uncertainty over whether India would withdraw from the ICC event starting in England next month. 

According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, the CoA issued the directive via an email to the BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary today. “There has been more than enough negativity surrounding Team India's participation in the ICC Champions Trophy and the sooner the same is put to rest the better," said the letter, according to ESPNCricinfo.

India were the only team not to submit their squad for the Champions Trophy by the April 25 deadline, saying the delay was due to ‘operational’ reasons. However, it soon came to light that BCCI were thinking of pulling out of the eight-team event because they were not happy with the outcome of the voting during a recent ICC board meeting which approved a new constitution, governance structure and financial model. The restructuring of the financial model was the mosy contentious point as it will see BCCI earn (USD 293 million) considerably less than they would have under the Big Three model (USD 570 million) over the eight-year cycle. 

The email continued: "You are aware that the squad representing India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 was to be submitted by 25th April 2017 but the squad has not even been selected as yet. Please convene a meeting of the selection committee for selecting the squad immediately. The squad can then be submitted to the ICC without prejudice to BCCI's legal rights."  

Till today, it was understood that the final decision on India’s participation would be taken at a BCCI special general meeting (SGM) on May 7, but the CoA seemed to be seeking to put an immediate end to that uncertainty.

"We believe that any decision taken at the SGM should be predicated on the fact that India has the best team in the world today," the CoA told Choudhary. "Team India should be provided with a supportive environment to showcase Indian cricket instead of being surrounded with uncertainty and confusion. The players' interests are paramount and they must be given the best chance to prepare for, defend and retain the ICC Champions Trophy. The focus should be on enabling our team to achieve even greater heights and further laurels, which will automatically attract higher revenues.

"The BCCI appears to have lost sight of the fact that it attained a pre-eminent position in the ICC not by a combative approach but by building consensus and ensuring a positive image, including by helping other cricket boards in their time of need."

The COA had earlier warned the BCCI that any drastic steps taken in the SGM may lead to the Supreme Court being involved in the matter.