BCCI AGM: 10-Team IPL, 2021 T20 World Cup Tax Exemption, Cricket in The Olympics, Ganguly’s Conflict of Interest Among Various Issues

The 89th Annual General Meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chair by BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah is going to held on 24th December 2020 in Ahmedabad.

According to media reports, there is the possibility of discussion on various topics involving two new teams to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, tax exemption for the 2021 T20 World Cup, the inclusion of cricket at the Olympics and other important topics at the AGM.

As we already know that BCCI desperately wants to expand the IPL by adding two teams to the tournament. However, the upcoming season of Indian Premier League is likely to be played with regular 8 teams and bids will be invited for the addition of two new teams for the IPL 2022 season.

“At this point, the 10-team IPL, if BCCI intends to conduct it in 2021, will be a hurried one given that the tendering process and a mega auction will be difficult to organise in such a short span of time.”

“It is only fair that the approval is taken and the big 94 match tournament is held in 2022,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on the eve of the AGM.

After being put forth as the unanimous pick, the AGM will also see the appointment of Rajiv Shukla as the BCCI’s vice-president. The IPL governing council will also continue to be led by Brijesh Patel.

The conflict of interest issue of Sourav Ganguly could also be addressed at the meeting, but if the floor formally seeks an explanation from him on the matter.

T20 World Cup Tax Exemption Issue

The BCCI has only one week left to meet the ICC’s deadline to give full assurance that the global body will obtain a full tax exemption in October-November for hosting the World T20, or else it will be moved to the UAE.

Although exemptions have existed during past global events, the current tax laws will not allow a sporting event to be exempted and it will be fascinating to see what the BCCI’s stance on the issue will be.

Indian Representation in ICC

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, along with Ganguly, will remain India’s voice on various issues at the ICC.

Cricket in Olympics

If BCCI supports cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, it could end up losing its autonomy because being a National Sports Federation implies constant government interventions within the scope of the sports ministry.