Verma to report Shetty role as observer for Test

Verma, secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar and petitioner in the cases against BCCI, has been objecting to Shetty holding a post for some time.

CHENNAI: After taking on the BCCI successfully by questioning anomalies in the system, Aditya Verma has found an objectionable point in a decision of the committee of administrators (COA) nominated by Supreme Court. It’s the appointment of Ratnakar Shetty as observer for the India-Bangladesh Test starting on February 9 in Hyderabad.

A veteran of BCCI affairs in several capacities, Shetty is the COA’s choice for observer, following the Hyderabad High Court’s order to appoint one. He is the BCCI’s general manager (game development). The court also wanted a financial observer, for which the committee of administrators has appointed Santosh Rangnekar, the BCCI’s CFO.

Verma, secretary of Cricket Association of Bihar and petitioner in the cases against BCCI, has been objecting to Shetty holding a post for some time. His argument is, the Supreme Court has found discrepancies in his affidavit related to Anurag Thakur’s interaction with ICC over government interference in the board’s functioning.

“I will complain in the court against Shetty’s appointment. There are charges against him of misleading the court. Also, he has held office in Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for many years, which disqualifies him from holding any post in BCCI or state bodies. He shouldn’t be appointed observer for the Test on both counts. It is in violation of court orders and guidelines set by the Lodha committee,” Verma told Express on Tuesday. He didn’t specify when exactly he will move court.

Verma, following whose appeal the Supreme Court made the Lodha recommendations mandatory, had brought this to the notice of the Lodha committee as well. “Shetty tried to confuse the Supreme Court through wrong statements. I request to you to stop him work in BCCI in any capacity,” he wrote in a letter to the committee last month.

Shetty, an MCA office-bearer in different roles for 12 years, was the BCCI’s joint-secretary for a year. He was the BCCI’s observer recently, when a team inspected stadium and other facilities in Hyderabad, where the state cricket association is without a head following a court order against announcing election results.
The COA sees no problem with the appoitment of Shetty. “He was in Hyderabad for inspection of the venue a few days ago. He is already in Hyderabad as observer for this Test match. Whatever the Hyderabad High Court has said will be followed. The BCCI CFO is the financial observer, following the same court order,” said Diana Edulji, one of the four members of the COA.

atreyo@newindianexpress.com

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