The Justice RM Lodha Panel yesterday moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to appoint former home secretary GK Pillai as an observer to 'guide' BCCI in its day-to-day administration
BCCI president Anurag Thakur (centre) flanked by Board secretary Ajay Shirke (left) and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry
The Justice RM Lodha Panel yesterday moved the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to appoint former home secretary GK Pillai as an observer to 'guide' BCCI in its day-to-day administration. The Panel also suggested that Pillai's main job would be to appoint auditors for awarding all BCCI contracts, including IPL media rights, and holding of all future domestic, international and IPL matches.
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Stubborn BCCI
The Panel, in its third status report submitted in the apex court on November 14, has also sought a declaration from the bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur that all office bearers of BCCI and its affiliated state bodies, who are yet to implement the Panel's recommendations, "cease to hold office forthwith".
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In that case, this should be the end of the road for BCCI president Anurag Thakur, secretary Ajay Shirke, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and many state officials. If Lodha sources are to be believed there is no escape for the BCCI big wigs after this. "They can't be dodging this for too long after this. By not implementing orders of the SC-appointed Panel they have already taken this matter too far," a source said.
Waiting game
But top sources in BCCI said that they would wait for the Supreme Court verdict and not speculate on what can happen once the apex body hears the Panel's report. "The Supreme Court is the supreme body, so there is no question of not implementing their orders. We have always made it clear that some recommendations need serious discussion and so we sought time.
"Take for example the one-state-one-vote issue. Can anyone deny Mumbai their right to voice their opinion when it comes to matters related to Indian cricket after what they have contributed to the game in this country?" asked the source. "It can't be a battle of egos of one or two individuals when the future of a game, which is like a religion in the country, is at stake. So I am still hopeful that whatever is the verdict, it will be for the good of the game," the source added.
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