Lodha source: 'Thakur, Shirke has put England series in jeopardy'

A source close to the Justice Lodha committee said the India-England series might be in limbo if BCCI president Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke don’t file their compliance report and appear in person before the committee.

BCCI president Anurag Thakur has to submit an undertaking that BCCI will accept the Supreme Court directives of October 21.

Obstinate attitude by Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke will put the "entire England series in jeopardy” said a source close to the Justice Lodha panel.

While BCCI is yet to sign a MoU with English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) regarding a clause related to the financial aspects of the series, the source made it clear that the series will be in limbo if Thakur and Shirke don’t file their compliance report and appear in person before the panel.

The source informed that Lodha panel is still waiting for the affidavits from Thakur and Shirke.

“President and Secretary as per SC direction have to file affidavits in two weeks and then appear before the committee. They have done neither. President of BCCI also has to furnish undertaking to the committee. That has also not been done. In the absence of all this, the England tour is being put in jeopardy by Thakur and Shirke.”

In an earlier response, Lodha panel has stated: “The proposed MoU between BCCI and ECB concerns bilateral cricketing policy, the formulation of which is not a part of the mandate of the Committee. As far as payments are concerned, if they are to be made directly by the BCCI, no directions can be given by this Committee until relevant details are furnished by the BCCI.”