Rupa Gurunath Becomes First Woman To Head A State Cricket Association

Rupa Gurunath is the new president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). As per the reports, Gurunath, daughter of former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan, on September 26 has been elected the head of the State unit of the Indian Board. She became the first female president of a state cricket association. It is also learnt that the decision to nominate Gurunath's name for the post was taken about a couple of months ago. She is elected at the TNCA's 87th Annual General Meeting in Chennai on Thursday.

“I am happy to become the first woman president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The TNCA has been a professionally run State Association, which has a long history and headed by eminent personalities. My immediate priorities are to finalise the Lease Agreement with the Government and opening the three stands,” Gurunath said after the appointment. Cricbuzz reported.

Key Takeaways:

• Rupa Gurunath is the new president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). She was elected on September 26 as the head of the State unit of the Indian Board.
• Gurunath, daughter of former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan, became the first female president of a state cricket association. The decision to nominate her name for the post was taken about a couple of months ago. 
• Her husband Gurunath Meiyappan, a former Chennai Super Kings official is banned for life by the BCCI for his involvement in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal.

“Of course TNCA has zero tolerance for any form of corruption and TNCA will take appropriate action on any such issues. We shall continue to provide all necessary amenities and any other requirements for the players to perform at their best and look forward to improve their performances in all forms of Cricket.” she added.

Gurunath, daughter of former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan, became the first female president of a state cricket association. The decision to nominate her name for the post was taken about a couple of months ago. 

Although, before signing her in, one major issue kept the authorities a tad busy, which was related to her husband — Gurunath Meiyappan. The former Chennai Super Kings official’s complete blackout from the games was the reason that the decision to support her took longer than expected. He is banned for life by the BCCI for his involvement in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal.

#NewsAlert – Former BCCI chief N. Srinivasan's daughter, Rupa Gurunath elected as the president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. She is the wife of Gurunath Meiyappan, who is serving a life ban for his involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. pic.twitter.com/X2RNLFmAhX

— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 26, 2019

“Actually, we will have to wait till September 25 evening, 5 o’clock, because there’s time for anybody to file. We are confident that she will be elected unopposed. Our executive committee comprising 26 members unanimously approved her candidature,” a TNCA functionary told The Indian Express.

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On Wednesday, Gurunath's was the only nomination filed for the post of president. “Legally it was never an issue. And it was left to the members to decide. The members wanted her to become the president,” said a state association insider.

Gurunath is born and brought up in a family that is associated with cricket forever. Being the daughter of N. Srinivasan, she always had the skills to be a part of the game.

Gurunath is born and brought up in a family that is associated with cricket forever. Being the daughter of N. Srinivasan, she always had the skills to be a part of the game. Her father’s company, India Cements, owns 15 clubs in the Chennai league. Gurunath has been working as the secretary in one of those clubs. She has attended and enjoyed CSK’s IPL matches as well.

Feature Image Credit: The Hindu

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