Triplets from the Netherlands ply vs the UAE Source

Over the past decade and the ICC (International Cricket Council) have had a lot of differences with the BCCI (Board of Control of Cricket in India). The two bodies dont concur on the implementation of the video review system (VRS). Now there is an even bigger problem with the BCCI beating about the bush in complying with the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) code. It affects, in a big way, the ICC’s most ambitious project of getting cricket to be included in the Olympic Games to be held at Los Angeles in 2028. To this end, the ICC has recognised cricket governing bodies from 92 additional countries as associates. This along with the 12 permanent members takes the total strength of ICC to 104 nations or regions.

The ICC Office Source

There is, however, a problem and at the root of it is the BCCI, the body that governs Indian cricket and is recognised by the ICC as a council member since 1926. To enable the International Olympic Committee to accept cricket as a discipline in the Games, the International Federation has to ensure that all its members comply with the rules of the IOC. The bone of contention here is the compliance to the anti-doping code. The BCCI has been giving all sorts of excuses in avoiding compliance. That being the case the World Anti-Doping Agency on 14 October has confirmed that it has started proceedings to declare the ICC as a non-compliant federation.

The BCCI Office Source

The BCCI has been, since 2009, been repeatedly turning down the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency, WADA’s affiliate in India) citing that it has a robust anti-doping programme that meets all the conditions. Moreover, it contends that since it is not a national federation but an autonomous organisation with affiliation to the ICC it need not report to NADA. It has even rebuffed a recommendation by the sports ministry of India to comply with the NADA Code. But is the BCCI right in its stand? I think not. If any of the entities, the NADA or the sports ministry decides to approach the courts the BCCI will most likely come out second best.

All the members of the iCC Source

The BCCI will have to comply because as per the NADA Code a governing body is a “national or regional entity” that is recognised by the International Federation (ICC) as the representative of the sports discipline in the “nation or region”. If it was stipulated as a “national federation” the West Indies too would have had a problem in complying. It must also be noted here that the ICC’s constitution defines a governing body as “a national or regional entity that is recognised by the ICC as a representative of it or “a group of nations”. That clearly shows that the BCCI’s plea that it is not a ‘national federation’ is not a valid excuse.

WADA Office Source

The only other country among the 104 that has not confirmed to the stipulation is Afghanistan. It has been excused by WADA on the grounds that it simply does not have the infrastructure to implement the statute. If the WADA rules ICC as a non-compliant federation, the only recourse to it is to appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) where the chances of getting a favourable decision are minimal. That leaves the ICC only one option and that is to get the BCCI to oblige.

Spectators at a match in Nepal Source

Today the BCCI is the largest contributor to the ICC coffers and has been for the better part for the last three decades. Even the ICC tournaments are heavily reliant on the BCCI because of the vast Indian audiences and television viewers for revenue. That has changed the balance in favour of India in the ICC. Recently the BCCI has even hinted at the possibility boycotting an international tournament if it does not get the share that it is expecting from an ICC tournament. That threat as far as I am concerned is a hollow one. Neither Indian cricket nor the IPL will survive without the competition of foreign teams or the participation of foreign players.

The question is whether the ICC and the other members of the council have the gumption to call a spade a spade and bell the BCCI?