The president of the cash rich Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Anurag Thakur has admitted the crisis engulfing the board over the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Commission can affect the future of cricketers.
“We know the current situation is not in the best interest of cricketers, but the matter is sub-judice. We are in problem and we need to wait till January 3,” said Thakur to reporters at an event in New Delhi. The Supreme Court will give its final verdict on the formation of a panel to oversee the functioning of BCCI on January 3.
Thakur who has been reprimanded by the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, also expressed unhappiness at the way some former cricketers had been taking potshots at the BCCI. “The BCCI has created its own infrastructure without taking a single penny from the government. Yet some former cricketers, not all, speak against us,” said Thakur who was recently removed as the chief of the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). And he regrets the fact that the board despite being cash rich cannot spend it. “We have a lot of money but we can’t spend it. We need permission for it.”
Thakur also took the opportunity to criticise the International Cricket Council (ICC). “I was there at the meeting and every member felt that for a stronger cricket world, one needs BCCI. If anyone thinks that they can work without BCCI, they should know global cricket needs BCCI,” he said also wondering why Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli failed to make it to the ICC Test Team of the Year. “ICC should look into the matter as India is No.1 Test team. But I am happy that (R) Ashwin has been adjudged Test Cricketer of the Year, he said.
Thakur has faced flak over his failure to implement some of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha Commission. The apex court also observed that he might have committed perjury. Since taking over from Shashank Manohar, Thakur has had a tough ride as the BCCI chief and his future on the job remains uncertain as well.
(With inputs from PTI)