Executive committee under fire; IPL at CCI in limbo
Executive committee under fire; IPL at CCI in limbo
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The Cricket Club of India buildingu00a0file photo |
CALL it storm in a teacup or storm in an Indian Premier League (IPL) Cup. An open house meeting called by the Cricket Club of India (CCI) committee members to address issues and apprehensions from the member base about the prospect of the club hosting the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), was marked by shouting, dissension and loud booing last evening on the club lawns.
The angry member base repeatedly told the committee that it must resign, "resign, resign" for its lack of transparency, saying that the club must admit that it is pandering to IPL and Reliance and giving away the members right to use the clubhouse during that time in return. CCI president Badal Mittal though denied that there were demands to resign.
The crux of the issue was the club's negotiations with the IPL and why the club was bowing down to the demands.u00a0 The sentiment was that the club was being sold with a member shouting, "Why should we sit in the North Stand and the IPL invitees and guests in the clubhouse? Is it below their dignity to sit in the North Stand?' A fiery Devesh Sharma, CCI member, said, "At one point, a committee member got up and shouted at me: because of you cricket is not coming to the club."
A section of the members accused the committee of a lack of transparency and "wildly dodgy ways," saying, "Today people will be stopped from entering the club because of IPL. Tomorrow, this committee might say the Ambanis want to hold a private function on the stadium we have decided to give it out, so you cannot enter."u00a0
Many members went beyond the issue stating that the only option for the current committee is the door. "They should get out."
Dhiru Bhatia said, "One thing is certain, they might negotiate with the IPL but on our terms. The members are not going to sit out of their own club." An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) has been called for February 27, where members are to vote on having the IPL at the Brabourne Stadium. The club committee, though, might have to spell out fresh terms if it wants the nod from a majority of the member base, which exploded like a volcano on Saturday evening. Mittal says, "The EGM will be held. We will tell the IPL that the club members are not willing to share the seats, they can go to D Y Patil Stadium or any place they want. We are going to tell IPL that the clubhouse will be open for all members. Yet, in my opinion, this is going to spell the end of any big cricket in CCI."
