CHENNAI: The BCCI approached the Supreme Court seeking some relief but what they got was something they were not expecting. Though the court allowed the board to disburse Rs 58.66 lakhs as expenses for hosting the first Test starting between India and England in Rajkot on Wednesday, it said the payment should be made directly to the parties.
In yet another blow to the Board, the court has given more power to the Lodha panel by allowing it to vet contracts with various stakeholders for hosting all international, domestic and Indian Premier League for the 2016/17 season.
They way things stand, BCCI office bearers will now may be rendered powerless. The board will have to seek the panel's approval for all financial matters and this arrangement will continue till December 3, the next date for the hearing.
The BCCI filed a petition before the SC on Tuesday saying that if funds were not released the England series would be in jeopardy. Though the SC had no objection in releasing the funds, however, it ordered that payments should be made directly to the parties concerned instead of hosts Saurashtra Cricket Association. The BCCI now has to give the expenditure list to an auditor, who will be appointed by the Lodha panel.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur also took strong exception to the language used against the Lodha panel by BCCI top brass, including its secretary Ajay Shirke in his communication with the panel. Lodha panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayan complained that the use of words and the statements issued by them was akin to "constant insult".
During the hearing, the Lodha panel asked for secretarial support to monitor the day to day functioning and with the BCCI not objecting, the SC bench said, “It is appropriate that the committee is vested with power to engage experts in different specific fields considered necessary for finalizing the contracts in question. In the circumstances, we authorize the committee to engage such administrative, secretarial staff and engage the service of experts to determine the amount to be paid by BCCI for contracts for holding various domestic, international and IPL matches for the 2017 season.”