BCCI can’t ‘force’ Lodha panel report: MCA to HC

The Sharad Pawar-led Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has approached the Bombay high court arguing that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cannot force it to implement the Justice R.M. Lodha Committee report. The MCA, which is governed by the provisions of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, in its petition has claimed that the BCCI cannot “direct” it to implement the recommendations made in the 159-page report submitted by the three-member Lodha committee to the Supreme Court (SC). The petition is likely to come up for hearing before a division bench of the high court on September 30.

The MCA is headed by 75-year-old Pawar and if the recommendations of the Lodha committee are implemented in letter and spirit, the Maratha strongman will have to relinquish his post as the suggestions of the panel do not allow anyone above 70 years of age to hold an administrative position in BCCI or its affiliated units. In July, after a meeting of the MCA’s managing committee, Mr Pawar had said that he was going to retire from cricket administration. The SC, in July, had directed the BCCI and state cricket associations to implement all the recommendations of the Lodha committee within six months.