Kolkata: The Special General Meeting (SGM) of the BCCI on Monday only made sure that there was further delay in the implementation of the reforms suggested by Justice RM Lodha Committee as the meeting that lasted for nearly three hours saw the governing body of Indian cricket take up the decision of forming a committee that would ensure how , “best and quickly” the orders of the Supreme Court could be executed.
The committee which would have either five or six members according to BCCI Acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary would be formed on Tuesday with them coming up with their recommendations within a fortnight. Chaudhary said, “BCCI will form a committee to see how best could the Lodha reforms be implemented and the fastest.”
“The committee will have its first recommendations in a fortnight’s time and BCCI office bearers will decide how many members will constitute this committee, which could be 5 or 6,” he added further.
The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators had already instructed the BCCI for implement the Lodha Committee recommendations but there were certain areas that were needed to be discussed in the SGM.
One very important recommendation among them, was the one of the BCCI’s take on the, ‘one-state-one-vote’ policy which would have a direct impact on the voting rights of Maharashtra and Gujarat both of which has several cricket associations.
While Maharashtra has three- Mumbai Cricket Association, Maharashtra Cricket Association and Cricket Club of India, Gujarat has four cricket bodies in the form of Gujarat Cricket Association, Vidarbha Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association and Saurashtra Cricket Association.
Other issues involve the age limit of 70 years for board officials, a cooling off period every three years and increasing the number of members in the selection panel from three to five.
The acting secretary said that the committee would find out the barriers that has stopped the reforms from being implemented. He also said that the CoA would finally decide what was needed to be done.
Chaudhary said, “The committee will go into each and every action point necessitated by the principle (SC) judgement and then only those exceptional and limited areas of difficulties would be brought to the notice of the COA who will thereafter decide the course of action.”
N Srinivasan, the former BCCI president was also present at the meeting. His presence has been questioned of late as he stands disqualified to do so on two grounds- (age cap of 70 years and the cooling off period). But Chaudhary clarified that the state associations were free to send representatives of their choice.
He also explained that the board’s stance towards talks of a bilateral series against Pakistan remains the same and not even a meeting can be arranged without the approval of the Indian government.
On the issue of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) being suspended by the BCCI for their continued adamancy in having former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi be a part of their association, Chaudhary said, “We have asked them (RCA) to formally respond to a showcause notice and they have also decided to withdraw the litigation against BCCI.”
On Saturday, the RCA dismissed the Nagaur District Cricket Association of which Modi was the president. The BCCI had made it clear that Modi had to be removed from each and every position that he held in any of it’s affliated units after which the Indian board would remove the ban. Congressman CP Joshi is the new president of the RCA.
Chaudhary also said the newly constructed stadium in Guwahati was ready to host international matches and only a few areas needed to be addressed. “The Assam CA’s Stadium is fit to hold matches barring a few areas. Inspection was done by BCCI secretary and GM (Game Development),” he said.