Nagpur, India: The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has taken a major step towards updating its Constitution, with 668 life members voting in favour of proposed amendments during a Special General Meeting held recently. These changes, recommended by the Constitution Amendment Committee, will now be sent to the Supreme Court for final approval.

The committee was headed by VCA President Justice Vinay M Deshpande (Retired Judge, Bombay High Court), along with senior advocates Anand Jaiswal, Anand Deshpande, and Harish Thakur.

Highlights of the Proposed Amendments:

• Larger Executive Committee:
  The number of members in the executive committee will be increased to 11, allowing for broader representation and smoother functioning. The selection of team selectors will no longer involve elections — instead, the executive committee will nominate nine selectors, covering senior men’s, junior men’s, and women’s teams.

• More Room for Former Cricketers:
  The quota for former players seeking life membership will rise from 20% to 30%. It will now include those who played in the Ranji Trophy, as well as white-ball tournaments like the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophies.

• Removal of Outdated Quotas:
  Quotas for wards of deceased members and officials/umpires (both 20%) are proposed to be removed. A new 30% quota will be introduced for individuals who have significantly contributed to the association.

• Clarification on Age Limit for Office-Bearers:
  Members who are elected before turning 70 will be allowed to complete their full term, even if they cross the age limit during their tenure. However, anyone aged 70 or above will not be allowed to contest.

• No More Standing Committees:
  Standing Committees will be discontinued. Instead, all sub-committees will be appointed by the executive committee for better coordination and management.

• New Rules for Election Officers:
  If a State Election Commission member is unavailable, a retired High Court Judge — preferably from Maharashtra — may be appointed as the Election Officer.

• Increase in Secretary’s Spending Limit:
  The Secretary’s imprest limit will be raised from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 for urgent expenses. With approval from the executive committee, this can be increased up to ₹5 lakh for specific purposes, provided the spending is accounted for within two months.

VCA CEO Farokh Dastoor said the amendments are meant to improve transparency, governance, and efficiency within the association. Once approved by the Supreme Court, the new Constitution is expected to strengthen VCA’s overall structure and operations.