Amid speculation of the ongoing India-New Zealand cricket series falling under a cloud of uncertainty with a Supreme Court-appointed panel ‘freezing’ BCCI’s bank accounts for its alleged defiance to comply with its directives, Justice R M Lodha, who heads the panel on BCCI reforms, said cancellation of the series was out of the question and that the cricket administration body had probably misinterpreted its directives.
The BCCI today threatened to call off the ongoing series between India and New Zealand citing lack of funds following Justice Lodha’s directives to ‘freeze’ its accounts.
"Really unfortunate that all BCCI accounts have been frozen, there can’t be any tournament without money," said BCCI chief Anurag Thakur.
However, Justice Lodha today clarified that the panel did not direct banks to freeze all accounts of the BCCI and that it carry on with its routine expenses.
“Directives which we issued to BCCI yesterday in our e-mail are confined to disbursement of large funds to State Associations. Banks have been directed to ensure compliance of that. Routine expenses for matches, cricket activities and administrative matters aren't restrained. There is no question of any cancellations of game or series,” Justice Lodha said today.
Fuming over the defiance of its recommendations, the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha panel had "directed" banks, where BCCI holds accounts, not to disburse "large" funds to the state associations, a decision taken by the Board at its Special General Meeting on September 30.
“Accounts of BCCI have not been frozen. This isn't correct reading of our email, rather this is misinterpreting it,” Justice Lodha said on BCCI.
The BCCI, however, argued that state associations were dependent on the parent body for organising matches and were unable to carry on their functioning in wake of the latest directives from the Lodha panel, affecting their preparations for the upcoming games in the ongoing series against New Zealand.
"The members are pained at the treatment meted out to them. They are dependent on BCCI's funds for organising matches. So far seven associations have communicated their inability to host games in the home season while nine of them have inquired about the matter. If things are the way they are, the series (against New Zealand) could called off by today evening," a senior BCCI official told PTI.
"There is too much interference at the moment. People need to realise India has become a cricketing super power under BCCI's administration. We are the only sports body which has not taken a single penny from anyone including the government. We have created all the infrastructure on our own," the senior Board functionary added.
The all out war between Lodha panel and BCCI turned uglier after the panel, in its letter yesterday, directed banks to block BCCI's ‘large’ payments to the state bodies.
"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 panel had written.
"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.
