SHILLONG, MAR 8: The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) passed a series of landmark decisions, opening the doors of the game wider to players across the State while committing to a new standard of financial accountability and institutional oversight.
The Apex Council, presided over by its new President James PK Sangma, voted to abolish the longstanding 35-year age cap on player selection, a rule that had barred experienced cricketers from representing the State regardless of their form or fitness.
Sangma stated that selections will henceforth be based entirely on performance, merit, and fitness.
In a decision for development of grassroots cricket across every district, the MCA also lifted the ban on participation in tennis ball cricket, ending a rule that had penalised players for the very format through which most of them learn the game.
“Players will no longer face any restriction or penalty for taking part in tennis ball tournaments and similar local leagues as we cannot afford to discourage anyone from being a part of the game, especially because our state is still in a developing phase,” Sangma explained.
Former state cricket and MCA member Mark Ingty added that the Association would like to encourage every format that helps popularise cricket, particularly in districts where leather-ball infrastructure remains limited.
The association, upon the recommendation of its members Mebanphira Swer and Chuba Marak, also decided upon introducing a structured inter-district under-19 tournament for boys and girls, to be held this season across multiple venues in a zone-wise format, bringing competitive cricket closer to young players across the State.
MCA Vice President Rajiv Bareh added that giving players more match time, especially when they are young, is important and such tournaments allow nurturing of talent early on.
On the question of oversight and dispute resolution, the council ratified the appointment of Justice (Retd.) BD Agarwal, former Judge of the Gauhati High Court, as the Association’s Ombudsman, a constitutional office mandated under the Lodha Committee reforms adopted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The post had been vacant since the conclusion of the previous incumbent’s tenure, leaving players and members without a neutral forum for grievance redressal.
The MCA also discussed findings from an internal audit, which had flagged several compliance gaps.
“As a newly elected body of the MCA, its current members must work to fill these gaps which have remained legacy issues for a while now. A smooth flowing administration ultimately will help unhindered development of cricket,” Sangma said.
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