Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the governing body for all cricket-related activities in India.

Headquartered at the Cricket Centre near Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, it is the richest cricket governing body in the world, forming a part of the “Big Three” of international cricket – Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

As one of the most well-known regulatory bodies operating in India, it is all the more likely that questions regarding BCCI will be asked in the UPSC Exams in form another.

Hence, candidates will find the required information in this article.

Origins of BCCI

Cricket made its way to the Indian subcontinent when European sailors played the game in coastal settlements during the first half of the 18th century. The first recorded match was between the British Army and Settlers in 1751.

The Parsis were the first community in India to play cricket as a sport. They established the Oriental Cricket Club in 1848. This was followed by the establishment of the Hindu Gymkhana sports club in 1886.

It was in 1912 that a cricket team comprising Indias visited England. It was sponsored and captained by the Maharaja of Patiala. The Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC) – the predecessor of the current International Cricket Council – held a series of meetings in London which was attended by the Calcutta Cricket Club.

The outcome of the meeting was a decision to send a team, led by Arthur Gilligan to India. Arthur was the captain of the English team during The Ashes – a series of test cricket matches between England and Australia.

Arthur Gilligan met the Maharaja of Patiala and as a result, he promised to press for inclusion in the ICC if all the cricket promoters in India came together to establish a single controlling body.

With the Maharaja’s assurance a meeting was held in Delhi that was attended by delegates from:

• Patiala
• Delhi
• United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
• Rajputana
• Alwar
• Bhopal
• Gwalior
• Baroda
• Kathiawar
• Central Provinces and Berar
• Sindh
• Punjab

The delegates arrived at a unanimous decision to create a board for control of cricket in India. Hence the eponymous BCCI was formed on December 10 1928. R.E. Grant Govan became its president and Anthony de Mello its secretary.

The BCCI first started India’s well-known premier first-class cricket championship – Ranji Trophy – in 1936. The Ranji Trophy was named after the first Indian to have played in an international format. The King of Nawanagar State – K.S. Ranjitsinhji. He played for England in international cricket.

Following India’s independence from the British Empire, the BCCI has conducted many tournaments both within and outside. Its first international tour took place in 1952 when the Indian team toured England.

Structure of the Board of Control for Cricket in India

The governing body of the BCCI consists of the following:

1. President
2. Five Vice-Presidents, one from each zone
3. Honorary Secretary
4. An Honorary Joint Secretary
5. An Honorary Treasurer.

The day-to-day management of the BCCI daily affairs is looked after by the Working Committee. The President is the one who leads the board officially. The secretary is responsible for operating bank accounts and is the sole signatory. However, recently the Supreme Court of India appointed the Lodha Panel that came up with recommendations on changing the organisational structure of the board, but the recommendations are yet to be acted upon.

How does BCCI earn its revenue?

Since the BCCI is an autonomous entity, its financial matters are beyond the purview of scrutiny from the public. As it does not take any grant or financial assistance from the government and hence the government has not declared it a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005. The BCCI seeks government approval for sending the Indian team abroad or for bringing foreign teams to India

The revenue for the board is generated primarily through the following methods:

1. Broadcasting
2. Merchandising
3. Ad sales
4. Sponsorships
5. Donation

Due to a rise in the popularity of cricket and the advent of media, the BCCI has been instrumental in generating huge amounts for the Indian national team. For example, Air Sahara was the principal sponsor of the team for four years at INR 475 crore.

List of BCCI Presidents

The list of Presidents who have helmed the Board for Control of Cricket in India are as follows:

For more articles about the regulatory bodies of India, visit the following links