The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pays about INR 3,000 crore to the government annually in the form of income tax, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia disclosed on Friday (September 18).
Saikia’s assertion debunks the general perception that the BCCI enjoys tax exemption. While other sports bodies receive grants from the Government of India, the BCCI pays close to INR 3,000 crore, on average, every year, making a case for itself to get exemption in the National Sports Governance Act. There has been a debate on the issue on which the Supreme Court of India recently sought clarification from the Board.
However Saikia said the BCCI is not trying to circumvent the Act. “Regarding the Sports Act, our stand is very clear,” the BCCI secretary declared. “There are a lot of things which have to be done by the concerned authority. Once those exercises are completed and once the BCCI comes under the Sports Act, a particular notification has to be issued to make it a designated sport.
“Till that time, we are not supposed to do anything. Whenever that notification comes, immediately we will spring into action. We will do our job as per the rules of the new Sports Act. So, as of today, there is nothing like what was discussed in the Supreme Court that day. We will give the clarification on October 27, when the matter will be listed next time.”
Umpires fee increased; system of promotion-relegation introduced
In another major decision, the BCCI AGM approved an enhanced payment structure for umpires and match referees, along with a reclassification of their grades. A committee will assess the umpires on merit, and assignments will be made on that basis, including for knockout and other important matches. There will be four grades — A, B, C and D — for the umpires.
“At the end of every season, there will be a system like relegation and upgradation. Those who will be doing good — 10 umpires will be upgraded to the next level. Those umpires who are at the upper level, if they are not performing up to that level or their specific level, they will be downgraded. Ten umpires will go up, 10 umpires will go down,” Saikia said. “So, this will make them very alert throughout the season, and that will ultimately help the game of cricket, because some players’ future depends on the decision of the umpire.”
No change to BGT venues, for now
Meanwhile, the BCCI said there are no plans to shift the BGT Test against Australia from Ranchi. “When is the Ranchi Test? February (19). There are still six-seven months left. We will take a call (at the appropriate time). We do not have any such request or proposal that there is some issue regarding the Ranchi Test,” Saikia said, dismissing reports that there is a move afoot to shift the game from Ranchi.
Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) secretary Saurabh Tiwary said the association had made no such request to the BCCI. “There is no change in the venue. If anybody has to write to the BCCI about it, it should be me and I have not written it,” Tiwary told the media.
The marquee five-Test series begins on January 21 in Nagpur. Chennai, Guwahati, and Ahmedabad are the other venues of the series.
Other key decisions
The key decisions made are as under:
Arun Singh Dhumal and M Khairul Jamal Majumdar re-elected to the IPL GC.
The General Body unanimously took a call to celebrate the upcoming 20th edition of IPL in 2027 in a grand way.
The General Body has initiated the process for the BCCI centenary celebrations in 2028. The centenary will be celebrated through a year-long programme, commencing in December 2027 continuing through 2028, marking a landmark milestone in the history of Indian Cricket.
The BCCI Age Verification Policy was updated and adopted.
The General Body discussed with the State Units, measures to support differently-abled cricketers, including appropriate facilities and resources to promote their development and progress.
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