BCCI president Anurag Thakur today skipped the meet by Lodha Panel in which the Board was asked to implement a 15-step reform by October 15 ranging from constitutional reforms to principles of awarding various contracts, including lucrative TV rights.
As per instructions, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Ajay Shirke met the panel members and also carried a letter on behalf of Anurag Thakur, who cited his 'Leave of Absence' as the Parliament is in session.
"The BCCI has been given a specific timeline by the Lodha Panel to implement 15 specific steps related to constititional amendments by October 15. The honorary secretary, Ajay Shirke, has informed the panel that a first compliance report of the steps that are being taken will be submitted to the panel by August 25," a source close to the Lodha panel told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Asked about the steps that need to be taken, the source stated that it primarily pertains to the amendments in the articles of Memorandum of Associations (MOA).
"It refers to amendments in Memorandum of Association (MOA), the documents of the state cricket bodies' constitution, principles of awarding contracts," the source added.
According to sources close to the panel, secretary Shirke again spoke about practical difficulties in implementation of a few of the recommendations upheld by the Supreme Court in its verdict.
It was learnt that Shirke did mention about practical difficulties in implementation of some of the reforms (namely one state, one vote, age cap of 70 years, nine-year tenure and three-year cooling off period).
According to sources, the panel members told Shirke that nothing can be done as there is a "sanctity of a Supreme Court judgement.
The BCCI secretary did inform the panel that the Board will be seeking a review petition.
The meeting lasted for around one and a half hours.
By attending the meet by Lodha Panel, the BCCI indicated that it has ignored the advice by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju.
Justice Katju, who has been appointed by the BCCI to advice on SC verdict on implementation of Justice Lodha committee recommendations, also advised the Board to file a review petition before a larger bench of the apex court and not to meet the Committee as scheduled on August 9 terming the panel as "null and void".
