The Board of Control for Cricket in India launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Lodha panel, which has suggested measures to fix BCCI’s mess, two days before the Board will explain to the Supreme C
The Board of Control for Cricket in India launched a no-holds-barred attack on the Lodha panel, which has suggested measures to fix BCCI’s mess, two days before the Board will explain to the Supreme Court why it cannot accept some of the reforms suggested.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur lashed out at the panel, accusing it of causing “reputational taint and damage” to the Board. After the panel told banks to freeze BCCI’s accounts, Mr Thakur told Financial Chronicle, “We generate our funds. We aren’t subsidised by anyone. We don’t take a pie from the government.” The freezing of accounts triggered reports of the BCCI considering to cancel the ongoing series with New Zealand.
The Lodha panel was formed by the Supreme Court in January 2015 after the 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal. The panel has recommended sweeping reforms to bring more transparency and accountability in the BCCI. The Board has refused to accept some of the recommendations, and will explain its stand before the court on October 6.
“We are open to reforms. We have followed all timelines prescribed, but how can you reach out directly to our banks What is the provocation Payments to state associations have to be made so that games take place,” Mr Thakur said.
After the Board’s reaction, the Lodha panel had to back off, asking banks to de-freeze the accounts so that the BCCI could conduct its business.
Justice (retired) R.M. Lodha who heads the panel told FC, “There is no question of cancellation of any game or series. The directive is confined to disbursement of large funds to state associations. Routine expenses for matches and cricketing activities are not at all restrained,” he said.
The SC approved on July 18 most recommendations of the panel, and asked the BCCI to implement them.
A day after the court asked the BCCI to fall in line “otherwise we will make you fall in line”, the Board refused on September 30 to accept some of the recommendations, including the age cap and cooling off period for administrators, one-state one-vote policy and a 15-day window before and after IPL.
“The decision on the disbursement policy to associations taken on September 30 warranted corrective measures, and we took them. Unfortunately, this was misread and misinterpreted by the banks and the BCCI. Our directions will not impact the BCCI’s day-to-day functioning,” Mr Lodha said.
Mr Thakur however said that the Board cannot be muzzled. He said this is not an open-and-shut case on which “his Lordship can take a view.”
“Reach out to the BCCI office-bearers, have a dialogue across the table with us. In any case, we are adopting pretty much all the recommendations despite their being in contravention with the Tamil Nadu Societies Act under which the Board is registered.”
