Secretary Anurag Thakur to file affidavit in Supreme Court, outlining problems faced by Board in implementing Lodha recommendations
Justice RM Lodha, Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on reforms in cricket, with the copy of the report in New Delhi last month
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appears hell bent on playing a gritty innings.
Justice RM Lodha, Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on reforms in cricket, with the copy of the report in New Delhi last month. Pic/PTI
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The apex court, in its last hearing, said that the BCCI should either fall in line or they will make it mandatory for them to implement the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee. It had given BCCI time till March 3 to respond.
Yesterday, the BCCI's Special General body authorised its Secretary Anurag Thakur to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Indian cricket board, pointing out the "anomalies and difficulties" being encountered in implementation of Hon'ble Justice Lodha Committee recommendations."
"The Board will take up common issues like advertising revenue taking a hit with the cutting down on commercials during overs break, one-state-one-vote, etc," a state association member told mid-day after the meeting.
The Board has authorised state units to file their own interventions on recommendations that will hurt their interest.
"Almost every state unit will file their interventions in the Supreme Court as there are many recommendations that are impossible to implement practically," said a BCCI member.
While it is learnt that Madhya Pradesh will not file any intervention, the Cricket Club of India (Mumbai) and National Cricket Club (Kolkata) will challenge Lodha's recommendation on losing their voting rights.
Cause for concern
Saurashtra Cricket Association, too, would be filing interventions against various recommendations, like limiting the age of office-bearers to 70 and cooling period between two terms as its Secretary Niranjan Shah will be directly affected if these recommendations are implemented.
The Lodha Committee has recommended wide-ranging sweeping reforms in the BCCI including having only one vote per state, age cap of its officials, no simultaneous posts in state and national body along with restrictions on advertisements in televised cricket matches.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh was granted full membership of the BCCI. They will be part of the Central Zone for all BCCI tournaments from next season. Bihar Cricket Association was allowed to attend the SGM for the first time after 2008.
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