CHENNAI: As confusion prevails over the future of Board of Control for Cricket in India, as many as 22 of its members will meet the Lodha panel on January 11 to seek clarifications and directions to implement the Supreme Court orders in full.
It also is learnt, just like during the Test series between India and England, even the ODI series seems to be in jeopardy. It has emerged a faction in the BCCI is against holding the series and apparently has even got in touch with the England and Wales Cricket Board to talk about the possibility of stalling the series. However, the England team is here for the ODI series and will play a warm-up match on Tuesday.
When Express asked ECB whether such a discussion took place, a source said there was no written communication on this. “You can interpret it whatever way you want,” is how the official concluded.
Ever since an informal meeting of the outgoing and current BCCI members took place in Bengaluru, speculation was rife that units who had faced the wrath of the SC were planning to stall the ODI and T20 International series by refusing to host them.
On Sunday, the Hyderabad Cricket Association had informed the BCCI that they won’t be hosting the one-off Test against Bangladesh because of lack of funds. However, the unit did a u-turn on Tuesday and wrote to the BCCI that they are ready to host the match provided they are given adequate funds.
Though there were talks going around the BCCI that some of the members might float a parallel body, the Lodha panel seems to be unfazed by all this. It is understood that the 22 units who have written to the panel seeking clarification and direction are ready to accept the recommendations.
“A number of state units have written to the Lodha panel seeking our guidance and though there have been reports that some might try and sabotage the series, the panel is very clear that the game won’t be affected. Once a committee appointed by SC takes charge, things will run smoothly like before,” sources in the know how told Express on Monday.
It is also understood that one of the top agenda for the court-appointed committee will be to hand new contracts to the national players at the earliest. The BCCI is yet to give fresh contracts to the players because of the July 18 SC order that barred them from giving one and in case somebody tries to float a parallel body, they can easily woo the players. The board normally hands out contracts under three grades A (Rs 1 crore), B (Rs 50 lakh) and C (Rs 25 lakh) and for the 2015-16 season as many as 26 players signed on the dotted lines.
venkatakrishna@newindianexpress.com