SC verdict on Lodha panel's report, T20 series in USA focal points in BCCI meet

Mumbai: Even as deadline for their crucial meeting with the Justice Lodha panel is approaching, the bigwigs of BCCI are to meet here tomorrow to discuss the Supreme Court verdict upholding most of its appointed committee's recommendations for sweeping reforms in the Board.

The Working Committee of the Board has been convened urgently to discuss this burning issue that is set to shake up the very structure of the BCCI, along with the proposed two-match T20 series against the West Indies in Florida, USA, later this month.

Post the WC meet, the BCCI's SGM has been convened on August 5 in Delhi to discuss the Supreme Court order which has shaken up the Board's mandarins, a lot of whom will be impacted by it.

The SC-appointed Lodha panel has also invited BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke to meet the committee in Delhi on August 9 and, as such, tomorrow's meeting would obviously be used to discuss the apex court's verdict threadbare.

Already Mumbai Cricket Association has held a meeting of its managing committee and accepted the SC verdict in toto, although they wanted some clarifications about the one state, one vote order which, the members felt, would impact the way of choosing their teams for tournaments like the Ranji Trophy because of jurisdiction issues.

MCA president Sharad Pawar had told a press conference post the meeting that they would write to BCCI for clarification on the issue.

Also on the agenda of the Working Committee is the proposed two-game T20 series against World T20 champions Windies, hurriedly put up, in Florida.

A BCCI source had said that the details of the series have been "more or less" sewed up, but there still are major issues like awarding of broadcast rights for what's expected to be a money-spinning rubber and US visas for the players.

According to EspnCricinfo, quoting US cricket sources, the series was "98 per cent" on and the plan was to hold back-to-back games on August 27 and 28.

Currently, the Indian Test team is touring the West Indies, engaged in a four-game series with the hosts, which is set to end on August 22.