BCCI dithering over NSF registration

Sports minister Ajay Maken today said that he has still not received any response from the Indian Cricket Board, regarding the invitation to register as a National Sport Federation.

Sports minister Ajay Maken on Friday said that he has still not received any response from the Indian Cricket Board, regarding the invitation to register as a National Sport Federation.

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"We have written a letter to BCCI along with a copy of our Draft Sports Legislation. The joint secretary of ministry of sports has written letters to all National Sports Federations including the Indian Cricket Board for their comments on this draft legislation," Maken told reporters at his customary monthly press conference in New Delhi.

"And we have got about 80-100 suggestions and objections. But the BCCI so far doesn't figure in it. But we are going to have an open house discussion at various parts of the country and any NSF or any individual who wants to give any suggestion would be considered by the ministry," Maken said.

BCCI has been keeping mum on why it is not ready to register itself with the sports ministry. "The proposed National Sports Act is a legislation for all sports federations. In the draft bill, which will be tabled at the Parliament during the Monsoon Session, cricket falls under schedule 2, thereby making the cricket controlling body as one of the NSFs. That is the present position as far as the draft legislation is concerned," explained the minister.

Asked his view on Indian players' reported unwillingness to tour Pakistan, if the bilateral cricketing ties are resumed between the two nations, Maken said the safety and security of the players is paramount and cannot be compromised at any cost.

"As sports minister I would say that the safety and security of our players is paramount. They must be provided with top class security," he said. "But as a sports ministry, we would obviously like to broad-based sports and would like our sportspersons to visit as many places as possible to play matches," said Maken.

Asked about other bilateral ties in sports other than cricket and facilities being provided to Pakistani athletes for training in India, Maken said the ministry is ready to extend all possible assistance from their side.

"Now this is something that the respective National Sports Federations will have to decide. As fas as sports ministry is concerned, we would be more than happy to provide athletes from Pakistan to use the facilities and the grounds under the sports ministry."