SC's decision to freeze all financial transactions between BCCI and its state associations leaves Maharashtra split, with Mumbai CA saying cricket will suffer while Vidarbha CA feels there are ‘sufficient funds’ with associations
Anurag Thakur
The Supreme Court yesterday froze all financial transactions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and state cricket associations by directing apex cricket body not to disburse any funds, even for match purposes to them till they resolved to abide by the Justice RM Lodha panel recommendations on reforms.
ADVERTISEMENT
The apex court verdict has led to a split in Maharashtra’s main two cricket associations—Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), led by its president Sharad Pawar and Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), whose former president Shashank Manohar is now heading the International Cricket Council (ICC). “If we don’t get funds, it will be difficult for state association to conduct tournaments and ultimately because of this, cricket will suffer. If BCCI stop releasing funds it will only increase our difficulties. We will present all our problems tothe BCCI officials on Tuesday (Oct 25),” MCA Joint Honorary Secretary Dr PV Shetty told mid-day.
However, according to the Manohar faction, state associations have sufficient funds and the effect of the verdict won’t be immediate. “At the moment, all associations have sufficient funds and I don’t think we will face any immediate consequences of this order. There might be problems in the long-term though,” VCA president Prakash Dixit said. The SC has also directed BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke to give an undertakingbefore the Lodha panel and in the apex court by December 3, stating how much time they would need to implement reforms. A bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur and comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and L Nageswara Rao asked Lodha panel to appoint independent auditors to scrutinise all BCCI accounts.
The judgment also directed the Lodha panel to ask auditors to scrutinise the high-value contracts given by BCCI. It directed the Lodha panel to fix a ceiling of high- value contracts of BCCI.
VCA President Prakash Dixit and MCA Secretary Dr PV Shetty
The bench also asked the Lodha panel secretary to send a copy of the apex court order to the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar. Its funds choked by the SC, Thakur steered clear of commenting on the latest diktat. “What impact it will have on cricket, we cannot comment before going through the order. Once we get the copy of judgement we shall respond. There are difficulties which have been placed in front of the Court,” Thakur told PTI.
“It will be a new beginning for cricket in India. After SC’s interim order, BCCI has lost everything. Thakur and Shirke should present themselves before the Lodha Panel on December 3 and must accept all reforms in toto or they will be asked to leave BCCI on December 5,” Cricket Association of Bihar secretary and petitioner in the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing scandal, Aditya Verma told mid-day.
With inputs from agencies
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
