Execution of Lodha report may be delayed

BCCI forms panel to find ways to implement reforms

The implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations is set to be delayed after the BCCI decided to form a committee to analyse how “best and quickly” the reforms can be executed as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The decision was taken during a two-hour and 45-minute long Special General Meeting, attended by controversial former BCCI president N Srinivasan.

“Today, we had the SGM with an eight-point agenda, the most important of which was implementation of the principal Supreme Court order dated July 18 (2016),” said BCCI’s acting secretary Amitabh Chaudhary after the meeting here on Monday. “The house deliberated in great detail and with a view to completing the implementation process, constituted a committee which will examine how best and quickly it can be implemented.

“It will be constituted tomorrow (Tuesday) and should have its first recommendations in a fortnight’s time. It’s left to the office bearers and 5-6 members of the general body,” said the acting Board secretary.

Chaudhary said that the committee will start working in the next two days.

The principal issues are ‘one state one vote’, age cap of 70 years, cooling off period after every three years and reinstatement of a five-member selection panel instead of current three, although Choudhary did not elaborate.

“Committee will go into each and every action point necessitated by the principal judgement and only those exceptional and limited areas of difficulty will be brought to notice of CoA which will thereafter decide course of action,” said Choudhary.

“The Court’s order has to be implemented. If meeting went on for two and a half hours, item No 1 (on agenda) consumed in excess of an hour. There was no voting and it (panel) was unanimously constituted,” he declared.

Choudhary said it was up to the affiliated units of the BCCI to decide who will represent them at the SGM when asked how Srinivasan, because of who the Board got into trouble in the past with the Supreme Court, could attend the meeting.

“Notice for a meeting  says all member units of BCCI are requested to attend the meeting. As to which individual is chosen it’s their (units’) discretion as long as it does not violate any court order,” he remarked.

On some of the other issues like bilateral engagement with Pakistan, Chaudhary reiterated the BCCI’s stance that it can only play the arch-rivals if permitted by the government.

On other ICC related matters, including the diminished revenue of USD 405 million to be received from the world body, he said “factual reporting was made to the general body and the general body was satisfied. That’s it.”

About revoking the suspension order of the Rajasthan Cricket Association, the acting secretary said: Rajasthan was litigant vs BCCI. However the association has conducted its election following Supreme Court’s order and also communicated with us saying all impediments will be removed including litigation with BCCI.