While Team India is celebrating its rise to the top spot in the ICC Test rankings after defeating Kiwis in the Kolkata Test, the third match of the ongoing series between India and New Zealand has come under a cloud after the Lodha Committee questioned BCCI about the disbursement of annual subsidies and other payments to state associations.
Working on Justice LM Lodha Committee’s direction, the two banks, Yes Bank and Bank of Maharashtra, that operate BCCI’s accounts, chose to freeze the board’s accounts on Monday.
Following Lodha Committee’s directive to banks, a miffed BCCI has now decided to cancel the ongoing New Zealand series, which has a Test and five ODIs remaining, says an Indian Express report.
“We have no option other than to call off the India-New Zealand series as our banks have decided to freeze BCCI accounts. We don’t want India to be humiliated in front of the world. How can we function, how can we hold any games now? Who will make the payment? Freezing a bank account is no joke. An international team is here, and there is so much at stake,” The Indian Express quoted a senior BCCI official as saying.
The move by the cricket board comes as a reaction to Lodha panel’s letter to the banks, urging them to not give BCCI access to funds.
"It has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the 'Emergent Working Committee' meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations," the committee has stated in a letter to the banks.
The letter has also been addressed to BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke, CEO Rahul Johri and Treasurer Anirudh Choudhary.
"You are aware that by way of this Committee's direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent," the committee said.
"You are also aware that the BCCI has chosen to breach the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court as well as the first set of Timelines set out by this Committee which includes the Fund Disbursement policy to be framed by 30.9.2016.
"As the status report is to be taken up for directions by the Hon'ble Court on Thursday, 6.10.2016, you are hereby directed not to take any steps towards financial disbursement of the amounts as resolved/approved after the direction dated 31.8.2016. Any violation of this direction will be placed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court for appropriate directions," it added.
The panel also cited the July 18 Supreme Court verdict, which had told the BCCI to "cooperate and act in aid of the Committee and its directives".
The BCCI is on the backfoot in the ongoing tussle with the Lodha Committee, which has filed a status report in the apex court asking for the removal of the Board's entire top brass for violating its recommendations in the September 30 SGM.
According to a Times of India report, BCCI may have disbursed funds to the tune of Rs 2,600 crore which includes subsidies and the surplus from the now defunct Champions League T20 tournament.
The panel was also upset over BCCI for missing the first deadline for implementing the committee’s recommendations.
