Uncertainty over BCCI presidency as Binny turns 70

There is some confusion surrounding the presidency of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). With incumbent Roger Binny having turned 70 - the upper age limit for any office-bearer of the BCCI as per the Supreme Court-approved BCCI constitution - questions remain over his eligibility to continue in the role. Binny turned 70 on Saturday (July 19).

According to the BCCI constitution (Page 30), any office-bearer who turns 70 must will be disqualified. Automatically the vice-president - in this case, Rajeev Shukla - should be succeeding him. However, those close to the former India all-rounder and World Cup winner contend that he can remain in the position until the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September, without needing to sign any official documents.

Adding to the uncertainty is the impending Sports Bill (Sports Governance Bill), which is expected to be introduced and passed during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Unlike the current BCCI constitution, the proposed legislation does not prescribe a strict age limit, allowing office-bearers of national sports federations to continue until the age of 75. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is expected to introduce the bill, which is said to "override the constitutions of all national sports federations."

There has been no official word from the BCCI on the matter so far. With top officials away in Singapore for the just-concluded ICC Annual Conference, they were not immediately available for comment. However, it is understood that clarity may emerge in the coming days, said a source in the knowledge of the situation.

Binny himself was unavailable for comment. After returning to his hometown Bengaluru from London, where he had attended the Lord's Test, he left for a holiday in Thailand to celebrate his milestone birthday. He is believed to be vacationing on an island near Thailand, joined by family members - including his daughters and grandchildren who flew in from Australia.