Indian selectors accused of seeking sexual favours by Lodha panel secretary

Although Gopal Sankaranarayanan made these allegations, the Justices present at the meet intervened, to end the matter.

Lodha committee secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors of seeking sexual favours, according to an email report sent by BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke to board president Anurag Thakur.

Shirke complained about Sankarnarayanan’s comments, which were made at a meeting on August 9, in a letter to Thakur. This letter points at allegations made by Sankarnarayanan, that the BCCI were turning a blind eye to the corrupt practices of the selectors.

The report also points out that Sankarnarayanan waited till the end of the meeting to actually bring up this issue.

“The Secretary then started to address me and stated that there was large apathy in the BCCI and spoke of the shocking manner that BCCI conducts its affairs and activities and he stated that the BCCI has been a mute spectator to what he said were corrupt practices rampantly prevalent in the BCCI,” wrote Shirke in his 14-point letter, which was revealed by ‘The Indian Express’.

Shirke went on to describe how the secretary of the Lodha committee accused the selectors of seeking sexual favours from the parents of young cricketers.

He wrote: “He further made it appear as if this was a practice widely prevalent amongst cricket selectors and that the BCCI had not done anything in this regard. It was utterly wrong on the part of Mr. Gopal Shankarnarayanan to paint all selectors as depraved and despicable human beings in this manner and then to allege that BCCI did not take any action against its selectors.”

However, the Justices intervened Sankarnarayanan at this point, and put an end to this matter, according to Shirke's report.

The Lodha committee has proposed a number of changes to the BCCI’s administration. Despite these recommendations though, the BCCI is set to go ahead with its Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is set to be held on September 21. However, it is yet to be seen whether the Lodha committee gives validation to the AGM.

(This article first appeared in Deccan Chronicle)