The first step towards forming the BCCI Players’ Association has been already with reports of the first meeting to be held in Mumbai. The meeting will be attended by former Test cricketers Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Bharath Reddy, along with Shantha Rangaswamy as the women’s representative.

The Committee of Administrators (COA) had initially recommended Kapil, Mohinder Amarnath, Anil Kumble and Diana Edulji in the steering committee to help form the Players’ Association as per Lodha Panel Recommendations. Kumble withdrew since he had taken over as the India chief coach while Amarnath expressed his unwillingness for personal reasons. Edulji could not accept the offer because she was included in the COA.

The COA is reportedly keen to utilize the experience of Kapil, Gaekwad, Reddy and Rangaswamy, the original icon of women’s cricket in India. Among these players, Gaekwad has played an active role in administration at the Baroda Cricket Association.

The apex global body to represent players interest – the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) – has long supported the idea of a Players’ Association in India. A body was earlier formed under the guidance of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Arun Lal but it failed to make any impact.

Of late, former players have been engaged in forming associations at the state level and some of them have also completed the registration process. The Board had never encouraged the idea of a Players’ Association but Lodha Committee Recommendations have made it a mandatory requirement.