Cricket politics as usual: Defiant BCCI rejects key Lodha Committee recommendations

New Delhi: Cornered but defiant Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday decided to reject some of the contentious recommendations made by the Supreme Court constituted Lodha Committee while accepting majority of those proposed during the all-important Special General Meeting (SGM) on Saturday at Mumbai.

According to reports, the BCCI will oppose key recommendations like one-state one-vote, age limit of 70 years, cooling-off period of three years and the three-member selection panel, among others. This latest development put the BCCI in a sticky wicket and further degrading an already sour relationship between the Indian board and the judiciary.

But the Indian board has agreed to constitute an Apex Council with certain modifications. It's learnt that a representative of Comptroller and Auditor General will be inducted in the Apex Council, as well as the Indian Premier League Governing Council. (ALSO READ: BCCI misses first deadline to implement Lodha reforms; Special General Meeting adjourned)

Another Lodha Committeed recommendation which was adopted at the SGM was to grant Puducherry associate membership of BCCI.

After the SGM which lasted close to six hours, board president Anurag Thakur said said that "wherever they [Lodha Committee] found any legal challenges or practical difficulties, they gave view points & didnt accept those recommendations."

Wherever they found any legal challenges or practical difficulties, they gave view points & didnt accept those recommendations:Anurag Thakur — ANI (@ANI_news) October 1, 2016

He added that a detailed report to be submitted to the apex court will be first sent to the Committee for perusal.

But Thakur said that the BCCI has "followed all timelines of Lodha committee, and this is being held as per Lodha committee timelines."

We have followed all timelines of Lodha committee, and this is being held as per Lodha committee timelines:Anurag Thakur,BCCI Pres after SGM pic.twitter.com/FkTcb2T6sE — ANI (@ANI_news) October 1, 2016

Reports also said that the decisions at the SGM were taken through "some sort of voting process".

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The BCCI released a statement today, listing the recommendations which have been adopted at the SGM:

(1) The induction of the representative of Comptroller and Auditor General as the member of the Apex Council as well as the IPL Governing Council.

(2) The formation of the Apex Council with certain modifications.

(3) The various committees as recommended by the Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee including the special committee for the differently abled and the Women’s Committee.

(4) Formation of the Players Association and their representation on the Committee. The SGM authorized the CEO to contact the steering committee as proposed by the Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee and commence the formation of the cricket players association.

(5) The members were also unanimous in giving voting rights to the Associate members as per the ICC guidelines.

(6) Puducherry to be granted associate membership of the BCCI as proposed at Item No. 7 in the timeline report.

(7) The SGM also accepted Item No. 3 (Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials, Anti-Doping Code, Anti-Racism Code, Anti-Corruption Code and Operational Rules) of the first timeline report of the Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee for implementation for the next IPL season.

(8) With regards to Item No. 4 of the timeline report issued by the Hon’ble Justice Lodha Committee, the members drew the attention to the fact that while it was the effort to ensure a 15-day gap between the national calendar and the IPL – the same will not be possible in the year 2017 because of the ICC’s Champions Trophy being scheduled in England at around the same time.

(9) Item No. 5 (Agent Registration Norms) of the timeline report – was adopted unanimously.

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"The top bosses of BCCI were not ready to accept any of the Lodha reform and willing to wait till October 6 and see what the SC has to say," a SGM member told TOI.

The SGM got postponed yesterday citing technical grounds, thus missing the first deadline set by the Lodha Committee for the implementation of the first stage of recommendations.

The postponement came after it was discovered that some of the members did not have the necessary authorisation from their state associations to attend the meeting. (ALSO READ: BCCI staring at leadership crisis)

"Since it was Special General Body meeting and they had to complete the formalities. The authorization letters for the representatives from various states have not reached. So, they have been given one day's time to get the letters from respective state associations for the authorization. It has been deferred for tomorrow," senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla confirmed to reporters.

Meanwhile, the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) has adopted a resolution to consider and approve its proposed new constitution as per the recommendations of the Lodha Committee.

The VCA, at its special general body meeting on Friday evening to consider and approve the proposed new constitution of the VCA as per the recommendations of Lodha Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, unanimously adopted the resolution. (ALSO READ: Here's why the BCCI's Special General Meeting was adjourned)

Earlier on Wednesday, the Justice Lodha Committee submitted its status report with the Supreme Court, accusing the BCCI of defying the apex court's orders and stalling its proposed reforms.

The Committee, comprising Justice Lodha and retired Supreme Court judges Ashok Bhan and R Raveendran, was formed in January 2015 to herald cricket reform in India after the infamous 2013 IPL corruption scandal.