Tripura, Vidharba skip SGM; BCCI maintains opposition to key Lodha panel reforms

BCCI reportedly did not take any decision on the recommendations but asked state associations to keep a Plan B ready in case of any contingency.

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday maintained it's opposition to some of the key recommendations suggested by the Lodha Panel even as Tripura and Vidharbha opted to skip the Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai on Friday.

As reported last Monday, the Indian board held the meeting today to discuss the status report filed by the Supreme Court appointed panel.

According to reports, the board however did not take any decision on the recommendations but asked state associations to keep a Plan B ready in case of any contingency.

"Senior office-bearers said we have to wait till December 5. Any decision taken can be Contempt of Court. He also advised that state units will have to keep a Plan B ready. If court gives a verdict we have to abide by it and change constitution accordingly," a state unit official told PTI.

The Lodha panel, in its status report submitted on November 21, had requested the Supreme Court to dismiss all BCCI office bearers and appoint former home secretary GK Pillai as interim observer with a power to appoint auditor.

The apex court on November 25 agreed to hear on December 5 a plea of Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) seeking a direction to BCCI to implement the suggestions of Lodha panel, including appointment of Pillai as observer and sacking of all office bearers who are in violation of its recommendations.

Then, the BCCI on November 28 decided to convene the SGM to discuss the matter.

But as per reports, the Indian board continued to stick to their opposition to some keys, most important of those being the age cap of 70 years, the cooling period of three years and one-state-one-vote policy.

In between, the two state bodies which have already agreed to Lodha panel recommendations didn't attend the SGM. But their absence was blamed on fog by the board secretary Ajay Shirke.

"There was a feeling members are having different opinion. Vidharbha and Tripura did not come due to fog. We explained the situation and clarified with them again. They reiterated their stand that was taken in the first SGM on October 1. Almost all recommendations agreed upon except a few. We will wait for December 5 Supreme Court hearing," Shirke told reporters.