Bombay HC seeks Centre’s stand on whether OCI holders can play in BCCI tournaments

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The Bombay High Court on Thursday (September 10, 2026) asked 12 holders of OCI cards, who have moved petitions against a rule of the BCCI that requires a passport of India for players in its tournaments, to add the Government at the Centre as a party. The Court issued notice to the Government and said the matter will be heard on October 14.

A bench of Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, who heads the court, and Judge Advait Sethna said the Government at the Centre should be a respondent in these petitions. The bench said this would help it know the stand of the Government. The bench said an order in this matter could have consequences.

The bench said, “If we pass an order and a consequence follows, and the Government seeks a recall, then what? If the Government says no holder of an OCI card can represent the country, it will help. You should implead the Government as a respondent.”

The petitions include Kavin Kartik and 11 minors. The minors were born in countries outside India. They acquired citizenship of those countries by birth. Their parents are nationals of India. The minors hold OCI cards, and reside in India, and play cricket.

The petitions are challenging a decision of the BCCI from April 2024. The BCCI has decided that a player must hold a passport of India to take part in tournaments that bodies under the BCCI organise. The BCCI has banned players with citizenship of another country from these tournaments. The BCCI said the decision aims to ensure citizens of India get chances for selection in teams of the country and teams across countries.

Advocates Kunal Cheema and Datta Mane appeared for the petitioners. They argued that the BCCI is an independent body, not the Government, and that the decision affects rights of people. Mr. Cheema said, “If children are not allowed to play now, what about their rights and development?”

The bench asked Mr. Cheema, “If citizens of India say OCI card holders get benefit and they lose rights, then what?” The bench pointed to players from Afghanistan who have settled in India and sought citizenship of India to play with the BCCI. The bench said it wanted to know the stand of the Government.

Mr. Cheema said the BCCI permits holders of OCI cards, and people from countries outside India, to play in the IPL. The bench asked him not to mix issues. The bench said, “The IPL is not the BCCI. It is a venture for money. Players in the IPL do not represent the country. We are not against the rights of a child to play and develop. We have not made up our mind. We want to know the version of the Government.”

The bench issued notice to the Government. It directed the Government to file an affidavit-in-reply, a document, to these petitions. The matter will be heard on October 14.

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