Why Rahul Johri's Dismissal May Help Sourav Ganguly Bat Longer As BCCI Boss

Rahul Johri’s resignation further deepens constitutional crisis in the board, may force SC to hear BCCI plea on extending tenures

In two weeks’ time, the BCCI will look like a dozen of other state cricket associations --- headless, directionless and in the face of a great crisis.

Sample this: The BCCI President Sourav Ganguly tenure officially ends on July 27 when he goes into mandated cooling off. The Vice-President, who is supposed to take over in the interim, had resigned four months back and the position is vacant. Secretary Jay Shah’s tenure too has been aborted by cooling off period already. The top three out of five are not there and in two more months, it will be four of the five office-bearers, including joint secretary who will be out.

In midst of all this, interestingly, the only alternative to all these office bearers who could still run the BCCI in their absence constitutionally --- the CEO Rahul Johri, was shunted out on Thursday almost three months after he offered to resign. The government nominee in the BCCI --- CAG -- also shot out a letter exactly around the same time seeking their way out of the board’s daily affairs.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has been sitting on an application/petition from the BCCI to hear them seeking extension of their tenures and substantial roll back of the Justice Lodha reforms for almost a month.

The BCCI -SC stand-off is now truly into its last over, with one wicket remaining of Sourav Ganguly, who like  a good captain is seeking a metamorphic victory in taking the team towards a draw and like a good batsman trying to hang on, play for time by simply hanging on in face of a serious spell.

Which is why, the BCCI CEO resignation has come at the most appropriate time for Ganguly & Co. It leaves the apex court with little options in terms of imminent administrative crisis, the priority to streamline resumption of international and domestic cricket and more importantly the logistical nightmare of having to organize the IPL coordinating with the various state governments or foreign governments and boards at the last minute. To bear in mind the extraordinary times of Corona which has crippled actions and movement will also force the hand of the Supreme Court.

Legal experts are divided on their opinion over what this scenario means. Some believe that mere admission of a petition can allow the board to ask their office bearers to continue in the interim since matter is sub-judice while others believe that unless there is a status quo order or a stay, extending tenures might not be a viable option.

The BCCI might be bracing up for another long legal battle but this will suit the top brass just fine this time. The onus is on the SC now, once again, to avert a constitutional crisis in Indian cricket towards which it is hurtling. It will be impossible for SC to hear out and rule on a case within two weeks, and going by the last BCCI case, it took more than years for the various bench in SC to arrive at a conclusion. Status quo will be the best-case scenario for everyone --- the SC, BCCI, office bearers, the legal honchos and of course, the fans.

The only one flinching, though, would be members of the Lodha reforms.