The Bombay High Court has denied immediate relief to a group of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who contested the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision preventing them from participating in local tournaments. Nevertheless, the court instructed the BCCI to promptly review applications submitted by the OCI players for future consideration of their case.
Justices MS Sonak and Advait Sethna, sitting on the bench, emphasized the need for the BCCI to promptly address the representations from the OCI players, acknowledging that these individuals, likely young cricket enthusiasts striving for excellence, deserve a swift resolution. The court suggested that the BCCI should assess if any assistance could be extended to these individuals based on their circumstances.
The petitioners, led by cricketer Kavin Kartik, challenged a BCCI resolution dated December 18, 2023, mandating that only Indian passport holders are eligible to compete in local tournaments. The petitioners, represented by advocates Kunal Cheema and Datta Mane, contended that the decision was unjust and violated their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 21.
In response, the BCCI, represented by advocates Ankit Lohia, Ranjit Shetty, and Tejas Gokhale, defended the eligibility restriction, stating that domestic tournaments serve as a pathway to the national team, which is exclusively open to Indian citizens. The board argued that the restriction was logical and essential for maintaining the integrity of the system.
The BCCI maintained that the decision was made collectively and was not arbitrary. It cautioned against granting interim relief, as it could prematurely validate the entire petition. The court acknowledged the complexity of the case but found that the petitioners did not present sufficient grounds for an interim injunction due to a lack of evident arbitrariness.
The court scheduled a further hearing on October 17, 2025, to deliberate on the main petition.