CHENNAI: Even though BCCI joint-secretary Amitabh Choudhary was not allowed to attend the selection committee meeting on Tuesday, there is a bit of good news for him and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry. The four-member panel has clarified that the two will continue to perform their roles, subject to clearance from court.
There was speculation over the future of Choudhary and Chaudhry. After the Supreme Court removed president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke and appointed the four-member panel of administrators, it was thought that the joint-secretary and treasurer too would be asked to vacate their seats.
However, following a meeting of the new committee in Mumbai on Tuesday, it emerged that Choudhary and Chaudhry can continue. The meeting was attended by panel head Vinod Rai, Vikram Limaye, Diana Edulji, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and treasurer Chaudhry. Ramachandra Guha, fourth member of the body selected by the court, was not present.
“Subject to court clearance, the joint-secretary and terasurer will continue to function in these roles. They have been asked to submit an undertaking that they will abide by the Lodha committee recommendations and court orders. If the court is satisfied with the response, they will be in office,” Edulji told Express.
It remains to be seen, however, if treasurer Chaudhry has to take the cooling-off break administrators have to after every three-year term in office. Having become treasurer in June, 2013, he has completed three years. Choudhary doesn’t have this headache at the moment, since he became joint-secretary in March, 2015.
Edulji added that as directed by the court, this panel will oversee the process of implementing reforms as outlined by the Lodha commission. The first step is to hold elections. “We will start with BCCI and then go to the state bodies as far as elections are concerned. Course of action will be charted in due course.”
Asked about elections held in Hyderabad Cricket Association amid allegations of flouting of Lodha commission guidelines, Edulji refused to elaborate. “These things are still to be decided. We are figuring out what needs to be done, what are the dos and don’ts.”
atreyo@newindianexpress.com