Currently, there are 30 Controlling Clubs. But the big question is, how many of them are eligible to vote at the AGM ?
From this figure, at least 17 clubs don't conform to the requirements as laid down in the Cricket Board's constitution.
CONSTITUTION
Section 7 of the Cricket Board constitution dealing with Controlling Members states: (a) ``Any club which has been an Affiliated Member of the Board for an unbroken period of at least five (5) consecutive years, has a suitable ground of its own, counts a roll of at least 100 members and continues to possess these qualifications, shall be eligible on applicaton, to be made a Controlling Member. In the case of an Affiliated Member not having a suitable ground of its own, the qualifying period shall be fifteen (15) years.
(c)''A Controlling Member which does not contiue to possess any or all of the qualifications set out above, shall ipso facto lose its controlling membership, provided that the Executive Committee may permit such a member to retain its Controlling Member status if it is satisfied that the loss of such qualification/qualifications was due to circumstances beyond its control. Should it lose its Controllling Membership it shall thereafter be rated as an Affiliated Member''.
OVERLOOKED
What has happened is that the Cricket Board ExCos over the years have deliberately overlooked the proper eligibility of certain clubs and elevated them to the status of Controlling Members for the purpose of obtaining votes. A club with Controlling Member status is entitled for two votes at the AGM, and a club with Affiliate Member status, one vote.
The Controlling Member clubs which do not conform to the Cricket Board's constitution are : Badulla CC, Bohras SC, Catamarans SC, Chilaw Marians, Galle CC, Kalutara TC, Kollupitiya Playground CC, Kurunegala SC, Leo Stadium, Liberty CC, Matara SC, Moratuwa SC, Mutwal SC, Negombo CC, Panadura SC, Saracens SC and Sebastianites CC.
The majority of these clubs don't have a ground of their own, while some of them use the Urban Council or Municipal grounds to play their tournament matches.
THEY QUALIFY
Only 13 clubs qualify to be given the status of Controlling Members - Bloomfield, BRC, CCC, Colts, Dimbulla C & AC, Malay SC, Moors SC, NCC, Nomads, Peterson SC, SSC, Tamil Union and University of Colombo.
The Cricket Board's ExCo needs to resolve this matter immediately and demote the clubs that do not qualify to hold Controlling Member status to that of Affiliate members. The ExCo has two further sittings this month and the next, before the elections, to take a decision.
The Sports Ministry should also ensure that under the Sports Law, the sports bodies registered with them comply with their respective constitutions.