Edulji confident of delivering on interim panel of administrators

In the afternoon, Diana Edulji had almost given up hope of anything definitive emerging from the Supreme Court hearing where a panel of administrators was due to be appointed. The former India women's captain knew she was in the reckoning as Gopal Subramanium, the amicus curiae, had asked if she would be interested in such a role. But, while Edulji admitted to a tinge of expectation, the adjournment of last week's hearing had made her "sceptical". Now, she had seen no news of the hearing on television for nearly two hours and was going to turn it off when the phone rang.

"I got a call from one of the channels congratulating me. I said, 'There is no breaking news anywhere.' Then suddenly, every channel started carrying the story one after the other," Edulji told ESPNcricinfo. "Given the number of twists and turns this case has been taking, I was a little sceptical. This time also it [a decision] didn't come up till 3.45 or 4pm. When the first time it didn't happen [during the earlier hearing], I didn't go deeper into it. I left it to God - if it is due for me, I will accept it. If it doesn't come also, I am okay."

Edulji, who has played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs between 1976 and 1993, is the only cricketer on the four-member committee which also includes Vinod Rai, the former Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Ramachandra Guha, the historian and cricket writer, and Vikram Limaye, managing director and CEO of IDFC (Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation). She is also a part of the four-member steering committee, led by former union home secretary GK Pillai, that has been tasked with the responsibility of setting up a players' association.

Edulji felt her presence in the interim committee of administrators was symbolic of what the Lodha reforms aimed to achieve. "It is a very good thing because what I have wanted [to do], now I am in a position to implement it, if that is the role that is given to us," she said. "I first thought it was the steering committee and the players' association, but this is a bigger and more prestigious role given, that I am the only player in India to be nominated by the Supreme Court. I hope I will live up to the expectations."

Edulji hadn't spoken with her colleagues yet - "I don't even have their numbers" - and wasn't sure about the nature of her role with the terms of reference of the panel yet to be issued. While she was aware it wouldn't be an easy job, she was confident her experience as sports officer in the Western Railways would serve her well.

"I was administrating 40 games and 40 teams there. Right from the recruitment to the promotions, to the practice sessions, to the departmental tournaments, everything was looked after," she said. "It was a huge job but a very satisfying job. Tomorrow [January 31], I complete one year of my retirement - so this is my third innings, I would say."

Edulji also said she was prepared to handle the mudslinging - a possible occupational hazard of being an administrator, even if on a short-term basis - that might come her way. "I am quite used to it," she said, adding that she would rather work "amicably" and hoped to be a bridge between the old administration and the new era.

It helped that former board secretary Ajay Shirke and veteran administrator Niranjan Shah were among the first people to congratulate her. "In fact all MCA [Mumbai Cricket Association] office-bearers rang me up," she said. "I immediately left for MCA. I wanted to be with them at this moment, because they have been so nice with me.

"I got a message from the [BCCI] CEO, Mr Rahul Johri, congratulating me and looking forward to working with me. That was a good sign also. Because I am the only player, it may just work out in my favour, [everybody] may co-operate with me."