Sports Minister invites BCCI to register as NSF

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Sports Minister Ajay Maken todaysought to strike a cordial note with the BCCI by inviting theCricket Board to register itself as a national sportfederation (NSF) with the ministry.

Top BCCI officials, who have been at loggerheads with theministry over the registration issue, met the sports ministerhere yesterday.

Maken said he had a good discussion with the boardofficials, who understood his point of view.

"I had a good discussion with the cricket board officialswhom I advised to register the entity as a national sportsfederation. I welcomed them to come and register as NSF andleave all the acrimony behind.

"The meeting was held in a very cordial environment andboth parties listened to each other''s concerns. Theyunderstood what I tried to say and hope this matter will getresolved soon," Maken told a press conference here.

BCCI president Shashank Manohar, secretary N Srininvasan,vice-presidents Arun Jaitely and Rajiv Shukla, and IndianPremier League (IPL) CEO Sundar Raman met the sports minister.

The Sports Ministry had de-recognised the BCCI lastyear as the apex cricket body in India following its refusalto register as a national sports federation. The board''s maincontention was that since it doesn''t take any financialassistance from the ministry, it is not binding onthem to follow the guidelines.

Following non-compliance of mandatory requirements, thegovernment recently withdrew customs duty exemption on importof goods by the BCCI or bodies certified by it.

The ministry had informed the government that the BCCIhas not complied with the mandatory requirements of submittingthe necessary documents to the Government for annualrecognition as a NSF.

Maken said he is hopeful of an early solution as the BCCImeets all other requirements of the ministry.

"All I can say is we will soon find the solution," hesaid.