BCCI's state associations continue to oppose Lodha panel recommendations

MUMBAI: The standoff between the Supreme Court and the Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI), over complying with the Lodha Panel recommendations on cricket reforms, does not seem to be coming to an end.

At its special general meeting (SGM) called in New Delhi today, BCCI members – the various state associations – maintained their position of opposing some of the recommendations suggested by the Supreme Court appointed committee.

"It is status quo," said a source from one of the state associations. "We all will wait for the Supreme Court's verdict on Monday, December 5."

Incidentally, on November 21, Lodha Committee had urged the Supreme Court to dismiss all office bearers of the BCCI and state associations, who do not comply with the recommendations. In its status report submitted to the top court, the panel had also suggested that former home secretary GK Pillai be appointed as observer to oversee operations of the BCCI.

Sources in the BCCI said that the state associations have been told to remain prepared with a contingency plan in case the Supreme Court takes unfavourable stance.

Interestingly, during the SGM, the office-bearers conveyed their helplessness in taking any decision, as they feared it may be termed to be contempt of court, informed another source.

The state associations of Tripura and Vidarbha – who have agreed to comply with the recommendations – gave the SGM a miss.

The BCCI continues to say that they have agreed upon most of the recommendations, and the ones they have not, are – three year cooling off period, one state one vote, and 70 year age cap for office-bearers.