SC pulls up BCCI, threatens to stop payments unless state cricket associations fall in line

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday threatened to stop all disbursements from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to state cricket associations unless they fall in line and accept the reforms suggested by the Lodha committee.

A bench led by the Chief Justice of India TS Thakur said that it will pass orders to this effect unless the state associations accept the reforms.

The court observation came after the BCCI said that it was helpless in implementing the reforms since three-fourths of the associations were not agreeing to accept the reforms.

"The BCCI should stop payments to them. And also take back the money disbursed so far," the CJI said. "Otherwise, we will pass the orders," he said.

BCCI counsel Kapil Sibal left it to the court to pass any orders it wanted.

The Lodha panel had told banks to not disburse funds from the BCCI accounts to state associations with regards to only two specific payments, and later clarified that it can carry on with its routine expenses.

Anurag Thakur said there would be difficulty in hosting matches if any state association does not have adequate funds.