BCCI subverting Lodha panel recommendations, alleges Aditya Verma

The Supreme Court appointed three-member panel, suggested one unit should represent only one state.

New Delhi: The unrecognised Cricket Association of Bihar has questioned the BCCI's move to meet president of the rival Bihar Cricket Association, claiming that it's an "attempt to subvert the recommendations of the Lodha Committee".

The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee last week recommended sweeping reforms and an administrative shake-up for the BCCI by suggesting that ministers be barred from occupying positions, a cap put on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalisation of betting.

In a series of drastic recommendations, the three-member panel, headed by Justice (Retd) R M Lodha, also suggested one unit should represent only one state, while taking away the voting rights of institutional and city-based units.

"Unfortunately, without the consideration of the fact that the Lodha Committee Report has been placed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and without awaiting the directions and Orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, a two Member Committee of the BCCI consisting of Ratnakar Shetty and K V P Rao have come to Patna today for conducting associate matches and are meeting the President and the Members of the unrecognised Bihar Cricket Association," CAB secretary and petitioner in the IPL spot-fixing scandal, Aditya Verma, said in a letter.

He added, "It is to be noted that the current President of the Bihar Cricket Association is Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who is also a Minister in the present State Government. What is intriguing is why the BCCI is meeting with the present President and other IAS/IPS officers and Sports Minister, Government of Bihar especially when the Lodha Committee has recommended a bar on serving officials and serving Ministers from heading cricket associations."

The committee also suggested the restructuring of the BCCI's administrative set-up, proposing the position of a CEO to run the daily affairs of the Board accountable to a nine-member apex council.

About the BCCI's move, Verma further said, "This is a matter of grave concern for me. It seems like an attempt to subvert the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. We condemn this unilateral action on behalf of the BCCI, ignoring the recommendations made by the Lodha Committee."