The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday adopted Lodha panel recommended reforms, barring the five contentious ones, at its Special General Meeting in New Delhi.
The members of the affiliated units of the BCCI during its AGM on Wednesday discussed Lodha panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayan's alleged remarks on the selectors but no specific decision was taken on the matter. "Yes, the matter came up for discussion on the floor. Secretary Ajay Shirke mentioned about some allegations made by Lodha Panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayan's about selectors.
The Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Panel denied that it had painted cricket selectors as morally 'depraved and despicable' individuals as has been reported in a section of the media, saying that there was no attempt on its part to do so. Quoting BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke, reports in a section of the media had said that a member of the Lodha panel had made accusations that cricket selectors took "sexual favours" while picking players.
The Mumbai Cricket Association headed by Sharad Pawar, is set to oppose most of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha committee submitted in its report to the Supreme Court last week. "We are opposed to most of the recommendations and are one hundred per cent behind Mr Pawar," said MCA's joint secretary P V Shetty, when asked about the managing committee meeting convened on January 13 to discuss the implications of the Lodha panel recommendations. "We will discuss everything and then put forth our views to the BCCI," said Shetty.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in its response in the Supreme Court, has refuted allegations of non-compliance with Justice RM Lodha-led panel's recommendations, saying that "records of 40 mails" exchanged with Justice Lodha will be submitted before the apex court.
The Justice Lodha Committee on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking the removal of Board of Control for Cricket in India's top brass including President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke for non-compliance of orders.
A chronology of events relating to implementation of the Justice R M Lodha panel recommendations on structural reforms in the BCCI.
Mumbai Cricket Association, headed by former BCCI President Sharad Pawar, would file an intervention application before the Supreme Court to highlight the difficulties in implementing Justice R M (retired) Lodha Committee's recommendations to restructure the Board. This was decided at a meeting of the MCA's Managing Committee, said a media release today from the association's joint secretaries, P V Shetty and Unmesh Khanvilkar. "In a meeting of the Managing Committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association to discuss the far ranging consequences of the Lodha Committee's recommendations, it was unanimously decided that the Mumbai Cricket Association would file an intervention application before the Supreme Court and highlight the difficulties and inconsistencies in the report," the media release said. "Accordingly, the members unanimously authorised Joint Honorary Secretaries and Vice President Ashish Shelar to seek appropriate legal advice and file necessary applications before the Court," the release added.
The Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha panel, on Monday, declined the request of Indian cricket board to defer the scheduled meeting on implementation of reforms within the next six months.
The Supreme Court is likely to pass direction, on Monday, over Justice Lodha committee plea alleging that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is violating the apex court order and committee directions regarding the BCCI reforms.
The BCCI submitted the first Compliance Report to the Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha Panel on Thursday in regards to the implementation of reforms as per the apex court verdict. "Yes BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke submitted the Compliance Report late in the evening today," a source close to the panel told PTI today referring to the two-page report.
'If Indian Prez can be over 70, why can't we be in BCCI'
The Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha Panel will meet on August 28 to discuss various issues concerning the BCCI, including the multiple complaints received against the Board. "In the light of several complaints received, Lodha Committee will have an emergent meeting on Sunday 28 August in New Delhi," a source close to the panel told PTI on Wednesday.
The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing regarding the Justice (Retd.) R.M Lodha-led committee's recommendations and the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) constant reluctance to accept all recommendations till December 14.
A source close to Supreme Court appointed Justice R M Lodha panel on Wednesday said that BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke could be held guilty of "defamation" for circulating a letter "attributing comments that were never made". It was also learnt that BCCI is yet to submit its status report on Wednesday's AGM and the committee is looking into all the eight decisions taken at the meeting on Wednesday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke will be meeting members of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice R M Lodha panel in the capital on August 9 after being compelled to bring in the reforms due to a clear directive from the apex court.
The Delhi and District Cricket Association on Wednesday refused to implement the Justice Lodha Committee's recommendations which could have direct ramifications on the functioning of BCCI's state units. The managing committee of DDCA met here to review and deliberate on various observations of the Lodha Committee, and was not quite convinced about most of the major recommendations calling for sweeping reforms in the BCCI's governing structure. The DDCA is not on the same page with Lodha panel on major issues like elections and terms of office bearers, DDCA office bearers simultaneously holding a post in BCCI, proxy voting and conflict of interest among others. On the issue of one person holding one post, the DDCA, in a statement signed by vice-presidents Chetan Chauhan and CK Khanna, said: "We the managing committee of DDCA feel that it is the freedom of concerned state associations, to decide (whether) the appointment of office bearers would affect/restrict administrative function of DDCA or not. "So long members of the executive committee (directors) do not feel that the functioning of DDCA is being jeopardized, there cannot be any justified reason in imposing this clause." The controversial cricket body is in favour of continuation of proxy voting.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly steered clear of giving an opinion on the Lodha Committee's reforms, which have been made binding by the Supreme Court, saying it is for the Board of Control for Cricket in India to decide.
The Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi, on Friday, asked the Supreme to recall its order on the BCCI in the case regarding the Lodha recommendations to be followed by the Indian cricket board.
Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Ajay Shirke responded to the letters sent by Justice Lodha Committee, stating that the BCCI cannot stop state associations from holding their elections.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India appointed former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju as the head of a four-member legal panel to help the BCCI understand the implications of the Justice Lodha Committee reforms, which have been made mandatory by the apex court.
The BCCI top brass will be facing charges of 'Contempt of Court' if they decide not to appear in front of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Panel to discuss the implementation of the Apex Court's verdict within next six months. BCCI's legal advisor Justice Markandey Katju has termed the panel as "null and void" asking BCCI not to appear before them on August 9 -- the scheduled date of meeting.
The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee has given the BCCI a second set of timelines besides setting a December 15 deadline for conducting AGM and forming an Apex Council. The decision was taken during a committee meeting on Sunday.
Following the Supreme Court on Friday, the Board of Control of Cricket in India secretary Ajay Shirke has written a letter to Justice Lodha Panel asking for clarification in the issues related to broadcast rights for the Indian Premier League. The invitation to tenders (ITTs) are slated to be opened on Tuesday (October 25).
The Supreme Court-appointed Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha panel asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to accept its reforms before proceeding ahead with the process of awarding the Indian Premier League media rights from 2018 onwards.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India alleged in the Supreme Court that the Justice Rajendra-Mal Lodha committee is trying to "run cricket" in the country by giving directions regarding match schedule, including the cash-rich Indian Premier League, which is beyond its jurisdiction.
'One state-one vote may not be a good idea in this country. There are Railways, Services, universities, Maharashtra, Baroda. Their arguments have impressed upon us to some extent. We may consider the issue in future debates'
The Supreme Court appointed Lodha Committee has told the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) that the "proposed MoU" between England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the BCCI "is not a part of the mandate" and no directions can be issued on payments unless details are furnished.
Rattled by the recommended sweeping reforms to its structure by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee, the Cricket Board has advised its affiliated state units to convene a meeting of its managing committee before this month end to discuss its implications. "You are aware that the Justice Lodha Committee appointed by the Honourable Supreme Court has submitted its report and we have received a copy of the same," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur has written in his letter to all the Board's affiliated units.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur has written a letter to the Supreme Court appointed Justice RM Lodha panel, intimating them that he is ready to meet the members any day after November 9. A reliable BCCI source confirmed the development. "Yes, the president has informed the Panel that he is ready to meet post Wednesday. In his affidavit also, he had already apologised that he could not appear before the committee as the Monsoon session of Parliament was on at that point of time," a BCCI official in know of things told PTI on Sunday.
Following is the chronology of events relating to implementation of Justice R M Lodha panel recommendations on structural reforms in BCCI.
Shaken by Justice RM Lodha committee's recommended reforms of its governance structure, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to call a Special General Meeting (SGM) within the next two weeks to discuss the implications of the report.
The BCCI submitted a 60-page affidavit to the Supreme Court in which it stated it's opposition to certain points in the Lodha Committee report including one association and one vote for each state and also the inclusion of a representative of the Comptroller and auditor general (CAG) in the Board.
Taking strong exception to the Board of Control for Cricket in India 'misleading' everyone on key issues such as disbursement of large amount of funds to state associations, the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha-panel on Tuesday said it is unfortunate that their directions have been 'misinterpreted'.
Supreme Court has dismissed the BCCI's plea seeking a review of its July 18 verdict directing it to implement the recommendations of Justice R M Lodha panel on massive structural reforms in the cricket body. "We have examined the grounds urged in support of the prayer for review. We find no error apparent on the face of the record to warrant recall of our order dated July 18, 2016. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed," a bench of Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justice S A Bobde said.
Former Goa Cricket Association (GCA) president Shekhar Salkar said more clarification is needed on some of the Lodha Committee recommendations calling for massive overhaul of the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and administration of the popular sport.
Former captain Anil Kumble said that many of the recommendations of the Lodha Committee report would be good for Indian cricket if they are implemented. "Many of the aspects of Justice Lodha recommendations are really good, especially the proposal to form Steering Committee of Players' Association. "If implemented, it will be good for Indian cricket," Kumble told reporters. The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Panel had recommended the formation of players' association by a four-member steering committee comprising former union home secretary G K Pillai (chairperson) and former India cricketers Mohinder Amarnath, Kumble and Diana Edulji (ex-Indian women's team captain), to raise their concerns.
Fuming at the defiance of its recommendations, the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel directed banks, where the Board of Control for Cricket in India holds accounts, not to disburse any funds for the financial decisions taken by the Board at its Special General Meeting in Mumbai on September 30.
The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Panel, on Thursday, instructed the BCCI to furnish the reports by accounting firm Deloitte on four state units before deciding on disbursal of funds for their players' payments, allowances and other expenditures.
Having stepped down as president of the embattled Indian Cricket Board that is facing the heat from the Supreme Court, Shashank Manohar said he quit as he was not capable of implementing the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Committee and see BCCI's structure collapsing.