KUALA LUMPUR — Amid ongoing political turmoil and a leadership dispute within the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA), the embattled body has made two key appointments aimed at restoring stability and strengthening institutional governance.
In a statement today, MCA confirmed the appointment of senior lawyer Gopal Sreenevasan as chairman of its Constitutional Review Committee, and seasoned cricket administrator Alex De Silva as independent chair of the Disciplinary Committee.
The move comes just weeks after the Sports Commissioner’s Office (PJS) launched an investigation into suspected foul play at the MCA, following police reports and legal threats filed by rival factions over the validity of the association’s April 27 annual general meeting (AGM).
The disputed AGM saw Mahinda Vallipuram return to power as president, replacing Mohamed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali, who has refused to concede his post, calling the vote a “coup d’état.”
Sports Commissioner Suhardi Alias has called the situation “highly unusual” and signalled that both current and former officials are under scrutiny.
Against this backdrop, the appointments are seen as an attempt by the MCA’s current administration to reinforce legitimacy and rebuild trust in its governance processes.
“These steps are vital to ensuring that Malaysian cricket remains accountable, transparent, and aligned with international best practices,” said Mahinda in a statement.
He expressed full confidence in both appointees, describing Gopal’s legal expertise and Alex’s independent oversight as “critical to strengthening the MCA’s core regulatory mechanisms.”
Gopal, a prominent litigator and former MCA honorary secretary, will lead a top-to-bottom review of the association’s constitution, benchmarking it against frameworks used by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
His remit includes working with state affiliates and independent experts to modernise the MCA’s governance.
Alex, meanwhile, will serve a two-year term overseeing the Disciplinary Committee, tasked with presiding over all misconduct matters involving players, officials, and members.
He brings decades of experience in cricket governance and is certified in sports arbitration by the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC).
Critics say the timing of the appointments reflects a strategic response to growing scrutiny.
However, whether the reforms will be enough to resolve the leadership crisis remains to be seen.
But as PJS continues its probe, the MCA’s new moves signal an effort to get its house in order. – June 17, 2025