Leadership change looms at BCCI, ex-India star considered for top post
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing for a leadership change later this month. Latest reports suggest that a former Indian cricketing legend is being considered for the president’s post, according to Hindustan Times.
Informal discussions have already taken place with the cricketer who is known for his record-breaking performances, during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. A senior political leader is also believed to have met him in England recently to gauge his willingness. While the cricketer’s response remains unclear, the outreach signals serious intent from influential stakeholders.
The move would continue the recent pattern of cricketers leading the Board. Sourav Ganguly served as president from 2019, followed by 1983 World Cup winner Roger Binny, who stepped down after turning 70, the upper age limit set under BCCI regulations. Vice-president Rajeev Shukla is currently serving as acting president until fresh elections.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in the last week of September. The members will decide on selecting the president, secretary, vice-president, joint secretary, treasurer and IPL chairman.
As previous terms, insiders expect the elections to be uncontested, with selections based on consensus among political and cricketing stakeholders. Treasurer Prabhtej Bhatia and Joint Secretary Rohan Gauns Desai are expected to continue in their posts. As the cumulative tenure of Devajit Saikia remains within permissible limits he is also likely to retain his joint secretary position.
The upcoming National Sports Governance Act, once implemented, may reshape the rules for cricket administration. Until then, the BCCI will continue to function under its current constitution.
The post of IPL chairman has attracted strong interest, with names such as Rajeev Shukla and former Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Naik under consideration. Should Shukla take over as IPL chairman, BJP leader and Bihar Cricket Association president Rakesh Tiwari could emerge as a frontrunner for the vice-president’s role.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
