Punjab Cricket Association justifies move to induct IAS/IPS officers as members

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 28

Bickering within Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) peaks ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) as members question move to award life membership to 25 senior IAS/IPS officers from the state.

While those opposing the move claimed that it was the first step towards making these officers PCA office-bearers, the management maintained that there was nothing wrong in this.

“It’s being pointed out that no meeting, either of the Apex Council or of the General House, has been held since 2019 to induct a new life member to the PCA… As per rules, any individual interested in the game of cricket may be enrolled as a life member by the Apex Council on such terms and conditions as may be laid down by the council from time to time...,” said one of the members seeking anonymity.

Sources claimed that on March 28, the House had asked a three-member committee to consider and recommend criteria for induction of new life members.

The committee, however, has not given any recommendations to the Apex Council/General House so far, claimed another member.

Clarification

A PCA spokesperson said: “The 25 senior IAS/IPS officers of the Punjab Government are appointed as members and not office-bearers.”

“According to the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, an office-bearer of a sports body should not be older than 70 years, should not be a government servant or a minister, should not hold office in another sports organisation, and should not have held office with a state association for more than nine years. But the guidelines don’t mention these conditions for a PCA member,” said the spokesperson.

“Moreover, the new members were chosen following the past practices which have been in place for more than 20 years. The records show that the president and office-bearers induct/enroll new members of the PCA and same procedure was diligently followed,” the spokesperson added.

“In the last year, more than 500 matches were conducted to promote cricket in the region. These false statements are being circulated only to embarrass the government, the bureaucracy and the PCA,” the spokesperson asserted.