Is BCCI president Anurag Thakur qualified, asks Supreme Court

The Supreme Court came down hard on India’s cricket board during a hearing on Thursday over the BCCI’s alleged stalling of recommendations made by a committee set

The Supreme Court came down hard on India’s cricket board during a hearing on Thursday over the BCCI’s alleged stalling of recommendations made by a committee set up to suggest reforms in the sports body.

BCCI chief Anurag Thakur interact with media at the board’s headquarters in Mumbai last year in September. (PTI)

Chief Justice of India TS Thakur enquired about the president of the Board of Control For Cricket in India--BJP parliamentarian Anurag Thakur--and whether the office bearers of the board were professionally qualified

“Does anyone of them have any qualification,” Thakur asked.

He followed up with a volley of questions about Thakur.

“Who is the president of the BCCI? What is he? Is he a politician? Did he play cricket?” Thakur asked, in quick succession.

The BCCI’s counsel Kapil Sibal intervened at this point, pointing out that Thakur had played cricket at the Ranji-trophy level.

But the CJI wasn’t impressed. “Even I am the captain of the Supreme Court cricket team,” he said.

The amicus curae, Gopal Subramanian, commented, “I can only say he is not an accomplished cricketer.”

At this point, Thakur appeared convinced. “These positions in the BCCI are based only on election, not on specific qualification,” the CJI commented.