And, yeah, finally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved the request for the Indian Cricketers’ Association for Former cricketers in the Indian cricket. It is a body formed according to the cricketing organization’s new constitution to look after the interest of former players.
The ICA is not affiliated to Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (FICA). It will be restricted to only former players, both men and women, unlike player associations in other major international countries, which include current players too.
BCCI formally recognises Indian Cricketers’ Association:
Currently, the ICA has three initial directors: former India captain Kapil Dev, former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar and former India women’s captain Shanta Rangaswamy.
It is understood these three will hold the position until the ICA conducts its executive elections, expected to take place before the BCCI elections. They are scheduled to take place on October 22.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (“BCCI”) hereby formally recognises the Indian Cricketers’ Association (the “ICA”). It is a non-profit company limited by guarantee incorporated on July 5, 2019. It is under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, as the official association for ex-cricketers in India,” read an official BCCI notice.
So far, in the world cricket, India and Pakistan are the only major countries to not have had a recognised players’ body. As for India, the BCCI has never wanted to have a third party like a player body become the bridge for negotiations with the cricketers. Instead, it has always reached out to the players directly.
As per the constitution, one male and one female ICA representative will be part of the BCCI’s nine-member Apex Council. Meanwhile, one other ICA representative will be the part of the seven-member IPL Governing Council.
In four-pointers, the board enlisted the criteria for the association, which are as follows:
1) Male and female ex-cricketers, who have played at least one international match in any format of the game at the senior level.
2) Male ex-cricketers, who have played at least 10 first-class matches in any format of the game at the senior level.
3) Female ex-cricketers, who have played at least five first-class matches in any format of the game at the senior level.
4) Differently-abled ex-cricketers. They have to play either international cricket or first-class cricket, where such cricket is recognised as such by the ICC or the BCCI and is organised by the BCCI or a body recognised by the ICC or the BCCI, in any format of the game at the senior level.