Surprise, surprise! BCCI to move SC over difficulties of implementing Lodha panel reforms

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will file an affidavit in Supreme Court, pointing out difficulties in implementing Lodha Committee recommendations. This was decided at its Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai on Friday, where Indian cricket’s governing body agreed to one of the Lodha panel’s recommendations on appointment of a CEO and CFO.

Key points discussed in the BCCI SGM: - BCCI to file affidavit in Supreme Court, pointing out difficulties in implementing Lodha Committee recommendations - BCCI gives full member status to Chhattisgarh, to play Ranji Trophy from next season. - BCCI to hire agency to start the search for a new CEO and CFO - Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), has been granted the status of associate member while unsanctioned Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), whose secretary Aditya Verma became the face of the IPL spot-fixing petition and anti N Srinivasan movement, was given the cold shoulder - One of the biggest points of contention are the ‘One state, One vote’ policy recommended by the Lodha committee - which will affect states like Maharashtra, Gujarat. - Other issue: Lodha committee’s recommendation to do away with commercials during the match, except during major breaks in play like drinks, lunch etc. This will severely affect the board’s revenue. - The ‘Age Cap of 70 years and cooling off period of three years between two posts will also figure in the affidavit to be filed in SC - The working committee decided that Shashank Manohar and secretary Anurag Thakur should discuss the financial ramifications of the restructuring of the ‘Big Three’ in ICC as proposed by the BCCI President and ICC Chairman, Manohar - Lodha Committee has also recommended having other sports in cricket stadiums during off-season, which the BCCI feels is practically not feasible

BCCI’s decision to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court pointing out the “anomalies and difficulties” in implementing the Justice Lodha Committee recommendations on the restructuring of the cricket board was unanimous. [caption id=“attachment_2631620” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] It was decided in the Special General Meeting of the BCCI that secretary Anurag Thakur will file an affidavit on behalf of the BCCI in the apex court. 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. “The Members authorised the Honorary Secretary BCCI to file an affidavit in the Hon’ble Supreme Court on behalf of the BCCI pointing out the anomalies and difficulties encountered in implementation of Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee’s recommendations,” the BCCI said in a release after the meeting. It is also learnt that BCCI has told the state associations that they can file affidavit separately on the difficulties they faced due to the recommendations. In fact Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA), who will be affected on two counts — losing voting rights due to ‘One State One Vote’ recommendation which may come into effect and its president Niranjan Shah requiring to quit if the age-cap of 70 is implemented, are moving court. “We will be filing an affidavit in Supreme Court,” SCA supremo Niranjan Shah said on Friday. It has been learnt that some of the points that will be in the affidavit include: The ‘One state One Vote’ recommendation which means that traditional cricket powerhouses like Mumbai, Baroda lose voting rights. The ‘Age Cap of 70 years and cooling off period of three years between two posts will also figure in the affidavit. Not holding position simultaneously in both state and BCCI like secretary Anurag Thakur, treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhary and joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary is another point. The Lodha Committee has also recommended having other sports in cricket stadiums during off-season, which the BCCI feels is practically not feasible. And finally, the most important point is about ‘having advertisement breaks only during lunch or tea in international matches’ which will lead to BCCI losing approximately Rs 1500 crore of revenues. The Working Committee also authorized the President and Hony. Secretary to appoint an agency to search for candidates for the posts of CEO and CFO for the BCCI, as one of the reforms suggested by the SC appointed committee. PTI