BCCI vs Lodha panel: Anurag Thakur submits affidavit in SC, denies asking ICC to intevene

New Delhi: BCCI president Anurag Thakur said in the Supreme Court on Monday that he had not asked ICC CEO Shashank Manohar to state that the appointment of Justice RM Lodha Committee would “tantamount to government interference” in the functioning of BCCI. “I am filing this affidavit pursuant to the order dated 7 October, passed by this court, on whether I had asked the ICC CEO to state that the appointment of Justice Lodha Committee was tantamount to government interference in the working of the BCCI,” Thakur said. “At the outset, it is denied that any such request was put forth by me to the CEO of the ICC.” [caption id=“attachment_3056578” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Supreme Court of India. AFP file image[/caption] Thakur said he had taken part in a recent ICC meeting where he had pointed out to the ICC chief that he, as then BCCI president, had taken a view that the Justice Lodha panel’s recommendation on appointment of a CAG nominee in the apex council would amount to governmental interference and may invoke action of suspension of the board from the ICC. “I, therefore, requested him if can a letter be issued clarifying the position which he had taken as BCCI president,” the affidavit said. “Manohar explained to me at the meeting that when the stand was taken by him, the matter was pending before this court and had not been decided,” Thakur said. The affidavit further said the apex court rejected BCCI’s contention that the appointment of a CAG nominee in the council would amount to governmental interference. The apex court had held that the ICC would appreciate that the appointment would bring transparency in the finances of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The apex court had on 7 October directed Thakur to explain by filing a “personal affidavit”, the allegation “whether he had asked the CEO of the ICC to state that the appointment of Justice Lodha Committee was tantamount to government interference in the working of the BCCI”.