Parikh resigns as junior cricket’s chief selector

Vadodara: The Supreme Court’s recent order on BCCI reforms has taken its first toll on the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) with its junior cricket selection committee chairman, Rakesh Parikh sending his resignation to the association on Wednesday. Rakesh has cited his appointment on two posts as the reason behind his resignation.

“I have checked with BCCI office that since I am a member of National Jr selection committee, I cannot take up this assignment. Wishing BCA a very successful cricket season,” Parikh’s letter to the BCA read. As per the Supreme Court’s order, no official can continue on two posts in the BCCI or other state cricket association. Rakesh has also been the chairman of the national junior cricket selection committee since 2015 apart from holding the same post in the BCA.

BCA secretary (in-charge), Snehal Parikh confirmed that Rakesh has sent in his resignation. Rakesh, however, has also asked the BCA to give him the official minutes of the managing committee which state that he has been appointed as chief selector of the junior cricket committee.

Rakesh had been BCA’s junior selection committee chairman since 2015. In March this year, the BCA’s managing committee again appointed him as the chief selector of junior cricket despite Lodha Committee’s recommendations that disallowed anyone to hold two posts simultaneously.

BCA officials defended their decision by saying that the SC hadn’t given a final order when they appointed Rakesh. When asked why Rakesh was appointed despite he having completed more than nine years in the BCA committees, an official said that the maximum nine-year rule was only for office-bearers and administrative posts.

After the SC order, many more heads may roll in the BCA in the coming days as many in the association including former cricketers and influential individuals are either members in more than one committee or have direct conflict of interest.

“We have called a managing committee meeting on Saturday where the issue of conflict of interest and membership in more than one committee may be discussed,” Parikh told TOI. If those who are having conflict of interest or present in more than committee don’t move out on their own, the managing committee is expected to remove them.


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