‘Disqualified’ Rajiv Shukla attends, addresses IPL auction

A source close to Lodha Committee confirmed to HT that Rajiv Shukla stood disqualified, having already served nine years with the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.

Despite the Committee of Administrators (COA) barring BCCI officials from attending the IPL players’ auction, Rajiv Shukla, the former Board vice-president, made his presence felt in the event in Bengaluru.

Rajiv Shukla addressed the IPL franchise owners on Monday in his capacity as chairman of the IPL Governing Council even though the Committee of Administrators had asked BCCI officials to self-assess their eligibility to attend the auction. (Getty Images)

Rajiv Shukla addressed the IPL franchise owners in his capacity as chairman of the IPL Governing Council even though the COA had on Sunday asked all BCCI officials, and those disqualified in particular, to self-assess their eligibility to attend the auction.

A source close to Lodha Committee confirmed to HT that Shukla stood disqualified, having already served nine years with the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association.

The Supreme Court had passed an order following the Lodha panel recommendations, which states that officials will have to serve a cooling-off period after each three-year term and can only serve a cumulative nine years each in respective state associations and BCCI.

Diana Eduljee was representing the CoA at the auction but probably wasn’t aware whether Shukla was qualified to attend.

“Only those persons who are not disqualified in terms of the strict understanding/interpretation of the disqualifications may attend auctions,” the release stated.