The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) has dismissed its under-23 women's team head coach and assistant manager following a statutory inquiry that found them guilty of gross sexual harassment. The state governing body also suspended its honorary secretary for actively covering up the internal complaints, dragging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into a massive administrative scandal.
MCA Takes Disciplinary Action After Sexual Harassment Probe
The disciplinary action follows an official probe conducted by the Meghalaya State Commission for Women. Investigators reviewed the severe allegations under the explicit legal provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act of 2013.
According to ABP Live, the MCA has now formally barred the former coach and assistant manager from all cricket-related activities. The decision comes after a detailed investigation that uncovered the extent of the misconduct.
Secretary Suspended for Cover-Up, BCCI Informed
The MCA's honorary secretary has been suspended for his role in covering up the internal complaints. This action has brought the BCCI into the picture, as the national cricket body has been formally apprised of the developments.
As reported by India Today NE, the MCA has communicated its actions to the BCCI, which now faces questions about its oversight of state cricket associations. The scandal has raised serious concerns about the safety of women cricketers and the handling of complaints within state bodies.
Our Take: A Test for Cricket's Governance
This is not just a local scandal in Meghalaya. The fact that the BCCI has been dragged into this case shows how deep the problem runs. When a state cricket association's secretary is accused of covering up sexual harassment complaints, it points to a systemic failure in protecting women athletes.
In our view, the BCCI must now take a hard look at how state associations handle complaints of misconduct. The MCA has taken the right step by sacking the coach and manager and suspending the secretary. But the real test is whether the BCCI will use this case to enforce stricter rules across all state bodies. Women cricketers deserve safe workplaces, and this case shows there is still a long way to go.
