With a view to promote Test cricket across India, the BCCI, on Monday, awarded Test hosting rights to six new venues. Making an announcement post the Annual General Meeting of the Board, BCCI President Shashank Manohar said that Pune, Rajkot, Vizag, Dharamsala, Indore and Ranchi were awarded Test status.
For the first time in the history of the Board, player contracts for women cricketers were also announced. The Board named 11 players in two categories – Group A and B – and they would get Rs. 15 lakhs and Rs 10 lakhs respectively.
BCCI Secretary, Mr.. Anurag Thakur informed that Mr.. Shashank Manohar would represent the Board at the ICC and will also be its new Chairman. “We would like to inform you that the BCCI representative to the ICC will be Mr.. Shashank Manohar. Being the virtue of the Board’s representative in the ICC, he will take over as the ICC Chairman.”
Mr.. Thakur also informed that the ICC would soon announce the venues for the upcoming ICC World T20 that will take place in India in March-April next year. “At the ICC annual conference in Barbados, it was decided to have eight centres. So the fixtures would be ready and announced by the ICC soon. We will be meeting them shortly and the details will be cleared by ICC soon.”
The Secretary also informed that Pune could replace New Delhi as the venue for the fourth Test match of the ongoing series between India and South Africa if the DDCA fails to get permissions. “Mr. President made it very clear in the meeting that DDCA need to take all the required permissions and get back to BCCI. If there are differences between DDCA and the state government, and they don't approach the BCCI by Nov 17, then Pune will get to host the Test.”
Issue of ‘Conflict of Interest’ addressed
The Board took several steps to address the issue of Conflict of Interest as promised by the President soon after he assumed office. Mr. Manohar said that Roger Binny was replaced in the senior selection committee so that his son, Stuart, is not targeted unfairly in the sections of the media. “The perception has to change. There should not be any injustice to Stuart Binny. If he is a deserving player, he should not get any flak from the media because his father is a selector. We cannot destroy his career.”
Draft auction for two teams
Mr. Manohar announced that a draft auction would be put in place for two new IPL teams. “We will have a draft auction as far as two teams are concerned. We would be allowing five players each to both the teams. The players would be pooled together.”
Meeting held with WICB officials
Mr. Thakur also informed the media that members of the West Indies Cricket Board met the BCCI officials. “The CEO and chairman of the West Indies Board met us recently and have given their viewpoint. We will take a call at an appropriate time.”
