Sacked BCCI president Anurag Thakur today said that he respects the judgment of the apex court and that it was never a personal battle for him. However, in an veiled dig, Thakur, also a BJP leader, said that if SC believed that retired judges could manage the BCCI better, he can only wish them luck.
In a landmark ruling in the ongoing tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the SC-appointed Lodha panel on reforms in the cricket body, the top court today ordered the removal of BCCI’s top brass, including president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke for their failure to implement the Lodha panel reforms under their leadership.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s verdict, Thakur said that it wasn't a personal battle for him and he respects the decision of the apex court like any other citizen.
"For me, it was not a personal battle but for the autonomy of the sports body. I respect SC like any citizen should," Anurag Thakur said in a statement.
"BCCI is the best managed sports organisation in the country and India has the best cricket infrastructure in the world," he added.
Further, in a dig of sorts, he said that if SC believes that retired judges could manage BCCI better, he can only wish them luck.
"If SC feels BCCI would do better under retired judges, I wish them all the best."
The apex court had also decided to initiate contempt proceedings against Thakur by seeking his response as to why he should not be held liable for obstructing the implementation of the court's directions aimed at reforming the BCCI.
A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said the working of BCCI will be looked after by a committee of administrators and requested senior advocate Fali S Nariman and senior advocate Gopal Subramanian, who was assisting in the matter as amicus curiae, to assist the court in nominating persons of impeccable integrity for the panel.
Justice R M Lodha, who headed the three-member panel formed by Supreme Court to make structural reforms in the BCCI, said it was only a matter of time for the reforms to be implemented.
