The best argument about the need for the Supreme Court to involve itself as heavily as it has done in matters of cricket — by not only dismantling the existing structure of the board but also appointing a panel to run it — was that the board wouldn’t have reformed on its own. Indian cricket would have suffered if board officials weren’t pushed out. Those who have followed the goings-on in the IPL, teeming with conflict of interest issues and crony capitalism, probably agree with the court. However, it’s an argument that doesn’t sit well with critics who see in the apex court’s moves elements of judicial overreach.
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More importantly, how long does the Supreme Court intend to intervene in the running of cricket in the country? The court’s last few moves have only deepened the confusion. It appeared initially that the Lodha committee, which spent a year researching, interviewing and brainstorming to come up with solutions, would be the one to oversee the implementation of the order. After all, they had invested so much time and energy in it. Now that the decision has been taken to appoint people who are seen to be independent, they would need to start again from the beginning. A CEO, too, was appointed but that hasn’t quite solved the issue of how the game would be run as he doesn’t have the authority to force the state associations to do the bidding of the court. Hopefully, the new panel can do that. But already, it has invited questions — for instance, two of its members belong to the same organisation, with Rai and Limaye both on the board of IDFC. Marking out the way ahead for India’s cricket demands greater judgement and a longer term vision than has been evident so far.
