Former BCCI president and veteran cricket administrator Inderjit Singh Bindra has decided to resign from the post of president of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) after being actively involved in its running for the past 36 years.
Senior IAS officer DP Reddy today took over as the president once Bindra announced his retirement from sports administration.
The Executive Committee (EC) of the PCA met at PCA stadium at Mohali today where the two decisions were taken.
According to PCA Secretary MP Pandove,the executive committee decided to consider the request received from 70-year-old Bindra, regarding his unavailability to discharge the day-to-day responsibilities of the PCA affairs and his inability to attend to the administrative works of the Association, especially in view of the works relating to upcoming new PCA Stadium at Mullanpur.
Bindra requested the EC to find his replacement so that the concerned person can discharge the duties of the PCA president in an efficient manner.
Pandove said the EC placed on record its immense appreciation for the works done By Bindra and unanimously decided to appoint 56-year-old Reddy as the president of the PCA.
The EC also discussed the proposal of the secretary to summon the Extra Ordinary General Body Meeting to make relevant amendments, in tune with time, to the Memorandum and Articles of the Association and authorised the Pandove to call the meeting at an appropriate time.
The Executive Committee discussed and decided to appoint various sub-committees and Incharge of various activities for the successful conduct of the CLT-20 to be held next month.
Bindra did not attend today's meeting. Meanwhile, PCA Joint Secretary, G S Walia said that Reddy, who is Financial Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Department in the Punjab Government, had taken over today as the PCA President.
"He has been associated with PCA since 1994 when he became the executive member. Reddy was then serving as Deputy Commissioner at Ropar. In 1996, he took over as Joint Secretary of the PCA and in 2008 he became the Association's treasurer.
"From 2010-2012, Reddy went on Central deputation and served in the Union Government. When he returned to the State, he took over as the PCA's Vice President in 2012," Walia told PTI.
Looking back at Bindra's career, Walia said that he has played a major role role as cricket administrator.
"We have so many fond memories and under him PCA and the Indian cricket went from strength to strength. Among the memorable events will be 2011 World Cup semi-final played at Mohali between India and Pakistan and watched over by a galaxy of leaders of the two nations including its Prime Ministers," he said.
"But a day comes in everyone's life that one has to go through this phase and Mr Bindra made his decision," he said.
Walia complimented Bindra, who also served as BCCI President in mid 1990s, for being a pioneer along with Jagmohan Dalmiya, in marketing the game successfully.
He said that Bindra, the former IAS officer, was Deputy Commissioner of Patiala in 1974 and subsequently in 1975 he became the Vice President of the PCA.
"In 1978, he took over as PCA President and served as the body's head till today," he said. Walia said that Mohali hosted its first ODI in 1993 which was played between India and South Africa.
"Ten years prior to that in 1983, the PCA got its first Test which was played between India and Pakistan at Jalandhar," he said.
"He played a key role in staging the Reliance World Cup in 1987," Walia said.
Later, in 1993, he and Dalmiya again played an important role in ensuring that that the World Cup 1996 was awarded to the Indian sub-continent.
"His other big role was also in opening up the Indian cricket television market". He also played a role in forming the Indian Premier League and other major role that Bindra has donned has been that of the ICC's Principal Advisor in which he has travelled to the United States of America and China to draft a plan to promote the sport in the two biggest world markets.
He said that Bindra has said that he would always remain available for any kind of help and guidance needed by the PCA. PCA's new world-class cricket stadium is currently coming up at Mullanpur on the outskirts of Chandigarh.
