BCCI to comply with NSG act once cricket is notified as designated sport
· Yahoo Sports
MUMBAI: The BCCI’s position on the National Sports Governance Act dominated discussions at the board’s 95th annual general meeting on Friday, with secretary Devajit Saikia saying the body would comply with the law once cricket is officially notified as a designated sport.
Saikia, however, said the BCCI would not come under the RTI Act because it does not receive govt grants. He said the board pays about Rs 3,000 crore annually in income tax, unlike other national sports federations that receive govt funding. “Regarding the Sports Act, our stand is very clear,” Saikia said after the AGM. “There are a lot of things yet to be done by the concerned authority. Once those exercises are completed, and once BCCI comes under the Sports Act, a notification has to be issued to make cricket a designated sport. Till that time, we are not supposed to do anything.”
Saikia said the BCCI would respond to the Supreme Court on Oct 27, when the matter is next listed. “Whenever that notification comes, we will immediately act and do our work as per the rules of the new sports act.” Saikia also argued that cricket should not be treated like other govt-funded sports bodies. “We are paying 3,000 crore in tax annually to the govt. Unlike other sports federations, we don’t take any govt funding. Hence, cricket cannot be treated as a designated sport under the National Sports Governance Act 2025,” he said.
The BCCI will complete 100 years in Dec 2028 and plans to form a committee for year-long centenary celebrations beginning in Dec 2027. Saikia said the board also discussed plans to mark the 20th edition of the IPL next year.
“In Dec 2028, we will complete 100 years of the BCCI, so we will hold centenary celebrations from Dec 2027 for one year,” he said. “The IPL, which will start from March-end next year, will have its 20th edition. We have discussed that it should be done in a grand way.”
Saikia, however, said the BCCI would not come under the RTI Act because it does not receive govt grants. He said the board pays about Rs 3,000 crore annually in income tax, unlike other national sports federations that receive govt funding. “Regarding the Sports Act, our stand is very clear,” Saikia said after the AGM. “There are a lot of things yet to be done by the concerned authority. Once those exercises are completed, and once BCCI comes under the Sports Act, a notification has to be issued to make cricket a designated sport. Till that time, we are not supposed to do anything.”
Saikia said the BCCI would respond to the Supreme Court on Oct 27, when the matter is next listed. “Whenever that notification comes, we will immediately act and do our work as per the rules of the new sports act.” Saikia also argued that cricket should not be treated like other govt-funded sports bodies. “We are paying 3,000 crore in tax annually to the govt. Unlike other sports federations, we don’t take any govt funding. Hence, cricket cannot be treated as a designated sport under the National Sports Governance Act 2025,” he said.
BCCI plans centenary celebrations from Dec 2027
The BCCI will complete 100 years in Dec 2028 and plans to form a committee for year-long centenary celebrations beginning in Dec 2027. Saikia said the board also discussed plans to mark the 20th edition of the IPL next year.
“In Dec 2028, we will complete 100 years of the BCCI, so we will hold centenary celebrations from Dec 2027 for one year,” he said. “The IPL, which will start from March-end next year, will have its 20th edition. We have discussed that it should be done in a grand way.”
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