BCCI to meet over Rajasthan Cricket Association status

The BCCI has convened a working committee meeting in Chennai on December 28 to decide the fate of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) in the wake of Lalit Modi's possible return to cricket administration as RCA president.

Modi, the founding IPL chairman, was banned for life from Indian cricket in September following an internal inquiry that found him guilty on eight charges. However, the court allowed him to contest the RCA elections since the state association is governed by the Rajasthan Sports Act.

The Supreme Court, which monitored the RCA elections held on December 19, is likely to announce the result in its next hearing on January 6.

Even if the board's working committee, which consists of 24 members, supports the suspension of the RCA from all official cricket activities - as hinted by BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel in a letter to RCA president CP Joshi last week - the committee is unlikely to take the call.

According to the BCCI constitution, if a member of the board commits an act of indiscipline or misconduct, the matter will have to be handed over to the disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committee's recommendations have to be ratified with three-fourths majority in a special general meeting.

Some of the working committee members feel Saturday's meeting will be an attempt on the ruling faction's part to constitute an inquiry and to "gauge if they can gain the three-fourths majority".

Despite the court allowing Modi to contest the election, the BCCI feels it can penalise the RCA since the association is a BCCI affiliate. If the BCCI suspends the RCA for allowing a banned individual to be involved in administration, it is likely to find itself in yet another legal battle.