‘Know how to hold bat…’- Supreme Court appeals new rule for non-cricketers running cricket bodies

The Supreme Court of India has taken a jibe at cricket administrators with no sports background, remarking that cricket associations should ideally be run only by former players and not the people ‘who don’t even know how to hold or handle a bat.’ Hearing the challenge to the Bombay High Court order staying the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) elections, a bench made it clear. 

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, made it clear it was in no mood to rescue cricket bodies from their own googlies. The court has also declined to interfere with the High Court’s stay on January 06, which was halted amid allegations of favoritism. The charges have become quite a regularity in the Indian cricket administration, as the toss.

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“From 1986 to 2023, you had 164 members, and from 2023 onwards, you made a bumper draw?” The CJI asked, which sounded less impressed than a selector watching padded averages. The particular aspect raising the bench’s eyebrows was the MCA’s sudden love for expansion.

Supreme Court makes new rule for cricket associations 

The legal battle began after the former cricketer, Kedar Jadhav, who was part of India’s 2019 ODI World Cup campaign and multiple teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), approached the Bombay High Court, alleging that the MCA voter list had been rigged with 401 new members, who are mostly linked with business and political interests.

“This is one country where outstanding cricketers are there. Those who have retired were the best in line. Who are you bringing? Those who do not even know the game do not even know how to handle a bat. Cricket is because of cricketers. Hockey is because of hockey players. At least this much respect should be given.” The CJI expressed that it was added that the line stole the show.

The Supreme Court sent the matter back to the High Court, asking it to hear the case, and it perhaps reminded that game’s powerbrokers to know the rules of the game, which they feel should start by knowing the game itself.