Kapil Dev set to lead players’ body in Haryana cricket

Even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put up a stiff resistance to implement the Lodha Committee reforms, work is in full swing in Haryana to form a players’ association and set up a body to take over Haryana Cricket Association.

Hindustan Times has learnt that India’s legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev will lead the players’ body as its chairman. The players’ association will be called Haryana Cricket Players Association (HCPA).

The process to register HCPA is underway and their first meeting is slated to be held on July 11. “Once all the formalities are completed, we will schedule our first formal meeting. All the international and state cricketers have been invited for the meeting. The code for HCPA will be distributed to all the former cricketers. The whole procedure will be followed as per the Justice Lodha Committee guidelines. Kapil paaji has agreed to be the chairman of the players’ body,” a source privy to the developments told HT on Friday.

READ | Why BCCI is against implementing key Lodha panel reforms

It is learnt that former India cricketer Chetan Sharma has been playing an active role in setting up Haryana’s players’ association.

A copy of their draft has been sent to the BCCI office here and the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators, said the source.

Members are also gearing up to replace the officials at the Haryana Cricket Association as almost 90 per cent of the current members are ineligible to contest again as per the Lodha report. “There will be no one to run the Haryana Cricket Association once the Supreme Court order is implemented in toto. We have identified the members who are eligible and are in the process to take over the HCA. We are hoping for a positive outcome from the Supreme Court,” said the source.

Kapil could not be reached for a comment on the development.