Lodha Panel Report: BCCI Objection May Drag Supreme Court Deliberations
The BCCI is contesting several proposals made in the Lodha panel report to the Supreme Court. The reforms will come up for hearing on April 5.
Friday's hearing of the Lodha panel report in the Supreme Court has been adjourned to April 5, two days after the ICC World Twenty20 ends. With the BCCI seriously contesting many clauses, it is unlikely that the proposal aimed at reforming the administration of the Board will be implemented immediately. (Click here for latest Cricket stories)
Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah are strongly backing the recommendations made by the Lodha panel. The BCCI and its affiliated units have objected to proposals that could affect the Board's voting system and even hit its coffers.
On March 3, the Supreme Court bench indicated that the BCCI could approach the Lodha panel to review "very limited plans." The Board is unhappy with the one-state-one-unit-one-vote proposal. Maharashtra and Gujarat have three full-member units with voting powers.
BCCI, one of the richest associations in world sport, has also objected to "no ad breaks during international matches" proposal. The Bench wanted details on how the Board distributed funds.
The BCCI has responded partially, once again raising objections that any curtailment of advertisements during live matches will scare away broadcasters. BCCI's biggest earnings are from selling broadcast rights.
Interestingly, the Services Sports Control Board has petitioned against the Lodha panel's report. The panel had recommended that voting rights be taken away from institutional members like Railways, Services and the Universities.
"Committee (Justice Lodha) has demoted existing full members and their vested rights of membership have been adversely affected without following the principles of natural justice," the SSCB contended. Services play Ranji Trophy from North Zone and is a founding member of the BCCI.