Annoyed BCCI to cancel India-New Zealand series following Lodha's after banks freeze accounts

Lodha panel had directed banks to stop disbursing payments to BCCI.

New Delhi: After witnessing constant defiance of its recommendations, the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel had written to the banks, where BCCI holds accounts, not to disburse any sort of funds for the financial decisions taken by the Board at its Special General Meeting on September 30.

Reacting to Justice LM Lodha committee's bold reaction, a rather miffed BCCI has reportedly decided to abandon the ongoing New Zealand series, which has one Test and five ODIs remaining. (WATCH: Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad calls for ALL OUT ATTACK on India following surgical strikes across LoC)

As per a report in Indian Express, a senior BCCI official said, “we have no option other than to call off the India-New Zealand series as our banks have decided to freeze BCCI accounts. We don’t want India to be humiliated in front of the world. How can we function, how can we hold any games now? Who will make the payment? Freezing a bank account is no joke. An international team is here, and there is so much at stake,” a top BCCI official said.

The Lodha Panel letter reportedly read, “it has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the ‘Emergent Working Committee’ meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations.”

“As the status report is to be taken up for directions by the Hon’ble Court on Thursday, 6.10.2016, you are hereby directed not to take any steps towards financial disbursement of the amounts as resolved/approved after the direction dated 31.8.2016. Any violation of this direction will be placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for appropriate directions.”

In the letter, also addressed to BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, CEO Rahul Johri and treasurer Anirudh Choudhary, it was written, “you are aware that by way of this Committee’s direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent,” the committee said.

BCCI, apparently, breached the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as the first set of Timelines set out by the Lodha Committee which includes the Fund Disbursement policy to be framed by 30.9.2016. (READ: Justice Lodha, Kirti Azad slam BCCI, say no question of India-New Zealand series being called-off)

It remains to be seen if both parties reach a mutual agreement and continue the ongoing series with New Zealand as clouds of uncertainity loom over.