Board of Control for Cricket in India

The first game of cricket was played in India by European sailors. They played it as a recreational activity in the early half of the 18th century. These sailors played Cricket near their settlement in coastal areas. The first recorded match in India was played between the British army and British settlers, in 1751. The world's second oldest cricket club, the Calcutta Cricket Club, was founded in 1792 in Calcutta. The Parsis were the first civilian community who took cricket as a sport and played it in India.[20] In 1848 they set up the Oriental Cricket Club in Bombay (present Mumbai). In 1850, they founded the Young Zoroastrian Cricket Club. In 1886, Hindu people founded Hindu Gymkhana, a sports club.[21]

In 1912, an all-India cricket team visited England for the first time, sponsored and captained by the Maharaja of Patiala. In 1926, two representatives of the Calcutta Cricket Club travelled to London to attend meetings of the Imperial Cricket Conference, the predecessor to the current International Cricket Council. Although technically not an official representative of Indian cricket, they were allowed to attend by Lord Harris, chairman of the conference. The outcome of the meeting was the MCC's decision to send a team to India, led by Arthur Gilligan, who had captained England in The Ashes.

In a meeting with the Maharaja of Patiala and others, Gilligan promised to press for its inclusion in the ICC if all the promoters of the game in the country came together to establish a single controlling body. An assurance was given, and a meeting was held in Delhi on 21 November 1927. This meeting was attended by delegates from Patiala, Delhi, United Provinces, Rajputana, Alwar, Bhopal, Gwalior, Baroda, Kathiawar, Central Provinces, Sindh and Punjab. A consensus was reached to create a board for control of cricket in India. On 10 December 1927, a unanimous decision to form a provisional board of control was taken. In December 1928, the BCCI was formed. R E Grant Govan was elected as its first president and Anthony de Mello as secretary.[22]

In the year 1926, BCCI joined the Imperial Cricket Council, the governing body for international cricket. In 1936 they started India's premier first-class cricket championship, the Ranji Trophy. It was named after the first Indian person who played international cricket, the King of Nawanagar state, K.S. Ranjitsinhji. He played for England in international cricket. Since inception of Ranji trophy, the Mumbai cricket team (Known as Bombay Cricket team till 1990s) has won the largest number of Ranji trophies, 41 times as of 5 November 2022. [[

CK Nayudu (In 1930s), Indian former cricketer, Indian cricket team's first captain in Test cricket

In 1932, India did its Test cricket debut under the captaincy of CK Nayudu at Lord's cricket ground in London against England. During England's tour of India, on 17 December 1933, Indian batter Lala Amarnath scored a century versus England at Bombay. It was the first ever test hundred scored by a Team India batter.[23] In 1967–68, India won its first ever Test cricket series outside Asia. Previously it had defeated Pakistan, New Zealand and England and won series at home in India.[24]

In 1952, the English team did a tour of India. It was the English team's first tour of India after India was freed from British control. Nigel Howard was the captain of touring team.[25] The former India captain, Vijaya Ananda Gajapathi Raju, also known as Vizzy, was the BCCI president in 1960s.[26]

In 1975, the BCCI paid 2500 rupees per match to the test cricketers. Banks, Indian railways and private enterprises would recruit players.[27]

The board made Ajit Wadekar captain. In 1971, The Indian team won their first test series against England on English soil in the 71 tour and the 1970–71 West Indies tour. Sunil Gavaskar made his test debut.

World Cup 1983 victory

After India's first World Cup victory, the BCCI bid for the 1987 World cup and successfully organized it. It was the first time that the cricket world cup was organized outside Europe.[28] They organized the 1996 and the 2011 ODI world cup. The 2016 ICC World Twenty20 and 2021 T20I world cups were hosted by the board.

Through the 1980s and early 1990s, BCCI paid ₹5 lakh per match to terrestrial network Doordarshan to telecast Indian cricket team's matches.[29]

In 1991, BCCI proposed South Africa's readmission to international cricket at the International Cricket Council (ICC).[30] After the proposal succeeded, BCCI sold television broadcast rights for the first time, with South African Broadcasting Corporation purchasing the rights to telecast the South African cricket tour of India, South Africa's first official international tour after a 21-year exile from international cricket.[31] During this time, South Africa would join the "Asian bloc" of BCCI and its South Asian neighbours.

In 1993, BCCI signed a deal with TransWorld International (TWI), wherein TWI would pay BCCI for telecasting England's tour of India on satellite television and Doordarshan would pay TWI for the rights to telecast the matches in India.[32][33] The 1993 Hero Cup was telecast on Star TV which made it the first cricket series to be telecast on satellite television in India and broke the monopoly of Doordarshan.[34][35] This ensued a lengthy legal battle between Doordarshan and BCCI, which was led by Jagmohan Dalmiya and president I. S. Bindra. In February 1995, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the television rights of India's matches were a "commodity" belonging to the BCCI for which the broadcaster must pay BCCI and not the other way around.[36]

BCCI, in a joint bid with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, won the rights to host the 1996 Cricket World Cup, defeating the England and Australia bloc. The tournament was a commercial success,[37] yielding ICC a profit of $50 million.[36]

In 1997, Dalmiya went on to become the president of ICC.[37] With Dalmiya at the helm of ICC, BCCI led a successful proposal of granting Test status to Bangladesh in 1999–2000.[38]

In 2007, BCCI established the Indian Premier League (IPL), an annual franchise-based Twenty20 cricket league. In 2008, BCCI sold the ownership of eight city-based franchises to various corporate groups and Bollywood celebrities for a total of US$723.49 million[39] and the tournament's global media rights for 10 years to World Sport Group for US$1.03 billion. The media deal was renegotiated the following year to $1.6 billion.[40] In 2010, BCCI expanded the league to 10 teams, selling two new franchises for a total of US$703 million.[41] On the back of the commercial success of IPL, similar-styled Twenty20 leagues spawned around the world, along with franchise-based leagues in other sports in India.[42][43]

In 2008, BCCI agreed to trial the Decision Review System on India's tour of Sri Lanka, after bad umpiring decisions had marred India's tour of Australia earlier that year.[44][37] However, BCCI soon after became a staunch critic of the various technologies used in DRS, which had sometimes produced inconclusive or incorrect results, expressing apprehensions on their reliability and accuracy.[45][37] BCCI opposed the use of DRS until June 2011 when ICC made DRS mandatory in all Tests and ODIs;[46] however, ICC reversed its decision a few months later as DRS effected several controversial decisions on India's tour to England.[47][48] While DRS was adopted in ICC tournaments and many bilateral series involving other teams, BCCI maintained its stance that it would not use DRS until it was "foolproof" and did not employ DRS for any bilateral series until 2016.[49][50]

On 14 February 2022, BCCI led foundation for new National Cricket Academy (NCA) at Bengaluru.[51]

On 19 October 2022, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that India will not go to Pakistan for 2023 Asia Cup and the tournament will be moved to another Neutral venue most likely UAE.[52] It generated dispute and Reacting to it PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja threatened that Pakistani Cricket team will not go to India for 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.[53]

BCCI'S former president N. Srinivasan was criticised for biased behaviour towards few state boards, while giving them ODI, Test and T20 matches in his regime.[72] His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was closely associated with Chennai Super Kings, IPL franchise was got arrested for alleged spot fixing and betting by Indian police. N. Shrinivasan is the owner of Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings.[73] In a landmark judgement of Supreme court of India, the court, pointed out the flaws in BCCI's rules that allowed an incumbent president, Shrinivasan own an IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings. It was alleged that he changed BCCI's rules to bid for franchise and later amended BCCI's constitution to buy franchise, when he was treasurer. He was the most controversial president of this board.[74]

In 2013, his daughter Rupa Gurunath, president of Tamil Nadu cricket association was found guilty of 'conflict of interest' by BCCI ethic officer, justice D.K. Jain. N. Shrinivasan is barred from contesting election in BCCI due to his 'conflict of interest'.[75][76]

It decides venues for international series by rotation policy.[77]

BCCI do not allow its contracted, non-contracted, national and domestic players to participate in any foreign franchise cricket leagues. Only players retired from all formats of Indian cricket, can take part in foreign leagues as per BCCI's rule. Players such as Adam Gilchrist had raised question mark on this policy. Indian players such as Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa have been urged board to allow non-contracted players like them to participate in foreign leagues. Even though the board allow players from India are to play List-A, First class cricket outside India.[78][79]

Many politicians from a variety of political parties have held different positions in BCCI so far, such as Sharad Pawar of Nationalist Congress Party, Madhavrao Scindia of Congress party and Anurag Thakur of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) were presidents, his brother Arun Singh Dhumal is current IPL chairman. As of 18 October 2022, Jay Shah incumbent secretary, is son of Home minister of India Amit Shah. Rajiv Shukla of Congress party associated with BCCI from decades is present vice-president. Ashish Shelar of BJP is treasurer.

With the surge of cricket in India, BCCI was criticised for its monopolistic practices and has suffered from corruption allegations.[80] The Supreme Court on 30 January 2017 nominated a four-member panel Committee of Administrators:- Vinod Rai, Ramachandra Guha, Vikaram Limaye and Diana Edulji to look after the administration of the BCCI in order to implement Lodha Committee reforms.[81] Vinod Rai, ex-CAG of India heads the four members panel to look after the administrative duties of the board until the fresh elections are called.[82][83][84] Presently, Sourav Ganguly is the president of BCCI.

BCCI was constantly opposed to come under National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). On 9 August 2019, the BCCI agreed to adhere to the anti-doping mechanisms governed by the NADA.[85][86]

Sunil Joshi, former Indian cricket team spinner was named as chairman of the national selection panel by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of BCCI replacing M.S.K. Prasad in that role.

BCCI banned former Indian captain Kapil Dev for his involvement in an un-sanctioned, private cricket league, the Indian Cricket League, which launched in 2007. It was owned and operated by Essel Group. The board also banned Indian players who played in this league including Hemang Badani, Dinesh Mongia, Rohan Gavaskar, and Ambati Rayudu. Later BCCI gave amnesty to these players, and lifted the ban, after they ended their ties with this league.[87][88][89] It blacklisted Zee of Essel group due to this league, the board removed them from it in 2021. Due to blacklisting, Zee was prohibited from buying BCCI's media rights.[90]

BCCI have own constitution. The board can not amend its constitution without the hearing and order of 'supreme court of India'.[91]

BCCI's headquarter was at Brabourne Stadium before moving to the current site at "Cricket centre" at Wankhede stadium in Churchgate area of Mumbai, Maharashtra. The BCCI headquarter is a 4 floors building, among which 3 floors are occupied by BCCI office. The land of BCCI office is owned by Mumbai Cricket Association and board took it on lease from them.[92]

According to BCCI, it does not receive any grants or fundings from Indian government. It is an autonomous body. In 2004 in Supreme court of India board's lawyers said that Indian cricket team play as, "the official team of BCCI and not the official team of India." The lawyers also claimed that we (BCCI) "not even fly the national flag" and the board never "use any national emblem in the activities of the Board." It sends its player's name for prestigious awards such as Arjuna award but technically board is not a national sports federation.[93] BCCI is registered as a society in Tamil Nadu state under societies registration act and it denies coming under Article 12 of Indian constitution. From its foundation BCCI did not get sanctioned by Government of India and it started as governing body of Cricket in India as well as representative of India. BCCI is alleged to use British Raj emblem without prior permission from government of India and its offence under the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.[94]

BCCI's logo is derived from Star of India. According to Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu, BCCI's logo was designed by the British Raj in 1928. It is 90% similar to Star of India sign.[95][96]

BCCI have special anti-corruption unit, which have responsibility to stop if there any malpractice in Cricket in the nation.[97][98] The unit investigate unlawful activities such as Betting, spot-fixing, Match-fixing and corrupt approaches of the players.[99] From April 2021 Shabir Hussein is the head of this unit.[100]

Former supreme court judge Vineet Saran is the incumbent 'Ethics officer and ombudsman' of BCCI. He was appointed in June 2022.[101] Board created this 'Ethics officer ' post in 2017 due to increasing complaints of conflict of interest in the baord's office holders, employees and associated peoples. The officer look the complaints of conflict of interest.[102]

Membership of the Board of Control for Cricket in India consists of full members and associate members; only full members have voting rights in annual general meeting.[103]

Following the Lodha Committee's recommendations in 2015, full membership was to be restricted to state and union territory associations, limited to one representative body per state. Subsequently, several state associations became full members and, because the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra each had three members, Mumbai, Baroda, Saurashtra and Vidharbh were relegated to associate membership.[104] Neither Cricket Club of India nor National Cricket Club field teams in major domestic tournaments but as founding members of BCCI had full voting rights until the Lodha Committee recommendations were implemented.[105][106] Some of the recommendations that were implemented have since been reversed. In 2018, Railways, Services and Universities regained full membership,[107] and in 2022, the rule restricting states to a single full member was removed, meaning that Mumbai, Baroda, Saurashtra and Vidharbh once again became full members.[106]

President is an elected position, and is considered the most powerful position in the BCCI administration. Due to financial clout and popularly of cricket in the country, it considered a highly prestigious position. President presides the meeting of apex council and general body. He signs audited annual accounts as well as financial statements.[108][109]

The full member state boards can vote in the presidents' election. Gujarat, Maharashtra has more than one full member but as per Lodha committee – supreme court guidelines any state can have only one vote in the election at any given time.[110]

Former India, Karnataka cricketer, national selector, India under-19 teams' coach and president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association Roger Binny is the incumbent president of the BCCI. He succeeded Sourav Ganguly. Binny is a member of India's 1983 world cup winner team. He took charge in October 2022.[111][112]

'BCCI secretary' is the second most powerful and important post after president. Secretary signs all the contracts and carries correspondence on behalf of BCCI. Jay Shah is the incumbent secretary. The secretary have power to take action or defend office bearers, employees of the board.[91] [113]

As per the eligibility criteria the person who have at least 10 years of working experience in a 100 crore INR or more annual turnover company on management position can be a CEO in this bord. Hemang Amin is the incumbent CEO.[114] Rahul Johari became the first CEO after this position created in the board. The post was created after the recommendation of supreme court appointed Lodha Committee. The CEO of BCCI handles its management duties, he reports to the BCCI secretary.[115]

Former India player Chetan Sharma is the incumbent chief selector for men's Cricket team.[116] The senior as well as junior selection committee have 5 members each, the members belongs to 5 different zones of India that is 'West zone, North zone, East zone, South Zone and Central zone. As per BCCI constitution no selector can remain on his position more than five years.[117]

• Ranji Trophy
• Vijay Hazare Trophy
• CK Nayudu Trophy[118]
• Indian Premier League (IPL)
• Duleep Trophy
• Irani Cup
• NKP Salve Challenger Trophy
• Deodhar Trophy
• BCCI Corporate Trophy
• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

• Women's Senior One Day Trophy
• Women's Senior T20 Trophy
• Senior Women's Challenger Trophy
• Senior Women's T20 Challenger Cup
• Women's T20 Challenge

BCCI organise following national junior cricket tournaments, in which junior teams of state association's participate :

• Cooch Behar Trophy (U-19, 4 day format)[119]
• Vinoo Mankad Trophy (U-19, One day format) [120]
• Vijay Merchant Trophy (U-16) [121]
• Vizzy Trophy[122]

In 2012, BCCI established its own production house. BCCI's broadcast service does the production work of Indian cricket team's international matches at home as well as of leading domestic championships and IPL . Till 2012, the company who holds the media rights used to do the production work in exchange of money from BCCI. Previously Nimbus sports did production for the board for some years.[123] BCCI's production house holds production rights and copyrights of Indian cricket.[124] It broadcasts video highlights of domestic as well as bilateral cricket series, on its website, www.bcci.tv .[125]

BCCI does not depend on the Government of India for its finances and hence is a private entity.[126]

In 2020, with US$405 million out of US$1,534 million, India had 26% share in the ICC FTP income disbursed to 10 Test playing nations, while the England and Wales Cricket Board received US$139 million as the second highest earner.[127]

In 2020, to revive the financial health of other boards after the global economic decline and the significantly reduced income of most boards due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ICC will change its FTP to schedule to organise more bilateral matches of other nations with India.[127]

The BCCI is regarded as cricket's big economic player.[128] ICC is mainly governed by board of directors which are nominated by each member board. Every member board needs bilateral matches with BCCI for high media rights value. Those boards which go along with BCCI, get good number of bilateral matches leading to high income during bilateral series. They generally work at ICC in consultation with BCCI. In 2009, the ICC and BCCI were in disagreement over the WADA Whereabouts clause.[129]

In FY 2019–2020, the total annual income of BCCI is estimated to be over INR 3,730 crore (US$535 million), including INR 2,500 crore (US$345 million) from the IPL, INR 950 crore (US$139 million) from bilateral cricket with other nations, and INR 380 crore (US$51 million per year or total US$405 million for 8 years) from India's share of ICC revenue.[127]

In 2020, as per the present eight-year Future Tours Program (FTP), India receives a total of US$405 million from ICC, as contrasted with US$139 million to the England and Wales Cricket Board, while US$128 million for each of Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa, Pakistan Cricket Board, New Zealand Cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket, Cricket West Indies and Bangladesh Cricket Board, and US$94 million for Zimbabwe.[127]

In 2018 Star India won the BCCI's exclusive media rights for the period of year 2018– 2023. Star India won the rights to broadcast Indian cricket team's matches on their TV channels such as Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 HD etc. and rights to broadcast on Disney+ Hotstar in 6138.10 crore rupees.

On average, Star Sports pays 60.1 crore rupees per match to the board.[130] The deal also include rights to broadcast men's domestic tournaments such as Vijay Hazare trophy, Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Duleep trophy, Mushtaq Ali trophy and women's international cricket matches in India on Star Sport channel and Disney+ Hotstar.

The IPL is the BCCI's largest source of media rights income. From 2018 to 2022, global rights were awarded to Star India for ₹16,347.5 crore (US$2.0 billion).[131] In 2022, BCCI sold IPL media rights in total 48,390 cr, comprising television rights of 23,575 cr and digital rights of 20,500 cr won by Disney and Viacom18 respectively. This deal includes 410 matches from year 2023–2027. Viacom 18 won the exclusive digital rights for Indian subcontinent and for streaming in UK, Australia-New Zealand and South Africa, while Times Internet won global streaming rights in Middle East, North Africa and United States. Due to this deal IPL became the second most richest league in the world behind National Football League (NFL).[132]

Star India is the official broadcaster of BCCI, MPL is kit sponsor, Byju's is team sponsor, Mastercard is title sponsor for all the bilateral series, which take place in India and for all the domestic championships such as Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare trophy, Sayyed Mushtaq Ali trophy, Irani trophy, Duleep trophy and Deodhar trophy etc. Dream 11, Ambuja and Hyundai are official partners.[133]

BCCI sold IPL 2022, offline – online tickets selling rights to BookMyShow, a ticket selling Indian company. The deal had been included management of spectators entry on stadium gates.[134] Paytm insider app also often sells bilateral series's tickets.

On 12 September 2006, BCCI announced that it will spend ₹ 1,600 crore over the subsequent one year to upgrade the cricket stadiums around the country.[135]

In early half of 2000s it established National Cricket Academy at Bangalore. It got built to train new upcoming cricketers. On 17 February 2022 BCCI president Sourav Ganguly founded new NCA facility at Bangalore. It is being built in 40 acres land near airport. On completion it will have three cricket grounds, 40 practice pitches, rooms to reside, swimming pool, gymnasium. It will be built in 200 crore rupees.[136]

In March 2020, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly donated ₹ 51 crore to the PM CARES Fund to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[137] BCCI to donate 10-litre 2000 oxygen concentrators to help India fight COVID-19.[138][139]

It announced reward to the medal winners of the country of Tokyo Olympics.[140]

The BCCI created four grades for contracted male players A+, A, B, C and three grades for contracted female players A, B, C. The male players who are in A+ grade get 7 crores rupees in a year. Players of A grade get 5 crore, B grade's players gets 3 crores and C grade's players receive 1 crore rupees in one year. The female players who are in A grade get 50 lakhs rupees in a year, B grade gets 30 lakhs rupees in a year and C grade gets 10 lakhs rupees in a year.[141]

BCCI give pension to the former domestic and international players who played for the country.[141] On 31 December 1993 BCCI decided to give 50,000 rupees pension to the players, who played more than 25 International Test match for the nation. The board gives 15,000 rupees pension to the players, who played Ranji trophy before 1957– 1958 season.[141] In 2013 BCCI gave one time benefits to the domestic players who played more than 75 first class matches.[142] For women's cricketers the board give 22500 rupees per month pension to the players who played 10 or more Tests for the country and 15000 rupees per month for who played 5 to 9 Tests.[141]

BCCI have taken insurance for nearly everything which are related to them such as they covered mediclaim for their employees, they have insured international and domestic players for loss of fees due to injury, matches, their old office and new office at Wankhede stadium, IPL matches. For it BCCI pay huge premium every year. In case of cancellation of IPL, domestic, international cricket matches, opening IPL shows which takes place at starting of the season due to bad weather, riot, fire then BCCI receives payments fom insurance companies.[143] Board provides five lakh rupees insurance to the players, who played under board.[144]

In 2018, the total amount of tax ₹ 472.22 crore, which was outstanding as on 1 April 2018, was cleared along with interest in September 2018 but the Department of Revenue has issued a notice for tax evasion to the BCCI. The Department of Revenue has asked the BCCI to pay another outstanding income tax worth ₹ 1,303 crore, according to details submitted by the Finance Ministry in the Parliament in February 2019.[145]

Earlier in 2007–08, although the Income Tax Department withdrew this exemption, BCCI only paid tax amounting to ₹41.9 crore (US$5.2 million) against its tax liability of ₹413 crore (US$52 million) in the 2009–2010 financial year[146]

In 2012, BCCI had avoided taxes on its income, claiming exemption as a charitable organisation.[147]