CHENNAI: In a last test of unity before judgement day, the BCCI came across as a house unanimous on not implementing crucial points of the Lodha reform recommendations. At a sepcial general meeting in New Delhi on Friday, members reiterated their objections against these and decided to wait for the December 5 verdict. The board had been set a December 3 deadline to fall in line.
The meeting was called to discuss the situation following the court-apointed committee’s appeal to Supreme Court that former Home Secretary GK Pillai be appointed observer and the current BCCI office bearers be removed. Other than sticking to stand with the exception of Vidarbha and Tripura, who have decided to initiate reforms in full, there were two notable observations.
According to a senior member who attended the meeting, Vidarbha and Tripura are still to submit papers stating their decision. “They have said what they have, but not submitted resolutions. Until then, their stand can’t be treated as compliance. Effectively, all 27 members have stuck to the stand (of not accepting contentious points) of the October 1 SGM,” the member told Express.
However, adding credence to thoughts that they are not with the rest, representativies of Tripura and Vidarbha didn’t attend the SGM. Saying that the president of the Tripura body couldn’t reach because of flight problems caused by fog, members accepted that Vidarbha’s absence might mean they are not with the rest on key issues.
On a different note, the meeting chaired by the BCCI president Anurag Thakur and attended by secretary Ajay Shirke pointed out that the Lodha committee has violated the Supreme Court’s October 21 orders by not appointing an auditor. But members couldn’t say how and if this could be used against the committee in court.
Members were asked by Thakur if anyone had a “change of heart” and wanted to implement the recommendations, to which the house apparently unanimously said “no”.
atreyo@newindianexpress.com