It’s exactly been one month since the Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee set the first timelines of September 30 and October 15 for the BCCI and its members to implement a series of recommendations that was validated by the apex court in order to bring reforms in Indian cricket. Recently the Secretary to the Justice Lodha Committee, Gopal Sankaranarayanan informed all member associations that the BCCI Secretary Ajay Shirke "has also confirmed to the (Lodha) Committee by way of Progress Report dated 25.8.2016 that the timeline laid down by the Committee is being adhered to unless there is an order of the Supreme Court that alters the position."
The Supreme Court’s two-judge bench in the Chief Justice of India, Tirath Singh Thakur and Jutice Ibrahim Kallifulla, gave legitimacy to almost all the recommendations of the Lodha Committee on July 18, 2016. As a consequence the committee directed the Cricket Association of Bengal, Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association to keep its elections "in abeyance" until they adopt specified recommendations, first by September 30 and second by October 15.
An advocate in the Supreme Court, Sankaranarayanan has reminded the BCCI members of the directive of the apex court which said: "Needless to say that the BCCI and all concerned shall cooperate and act in aid of the committee and its directives. Should any impediments arise, the Committee shall be free to seek appropriate directions from this Court by filing a status report in that regard."
It does not appear though that the BCCI, which has to adopt the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations by September 30, has made tangible moves to change its governance and management structure as recommended by the Lodha Committee.
The first timeline also demanded the State associations to amend its constitution, Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations,by-laws to bring them in terms with the report and the judgment. "Notices have not been issued to adopt the MOU, rules and regulations or for amendments to the constitution," said a BCCI official.
The Supreme Court order also mandated the three members each in the State of Maharashtra and Gujarat to determine the annual order of rotation to become the full member with voting rights. Sources said that no meeting has taken place among the three members of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Two members of Gujarat have not returned from USA after being taken there to see the two Twenty20 matches played in Florida. "We have not even talked about it," said one of the three full members from Gujarat.
The Lodha Committee has recommended that Puducherry may be made an associate member and the first timeline also stated that the BCCI has to begin the process of giving shape to the Cricket Players Association and also fund it. The Committee has debarred the BCCI from taking decisions for the next year and in these circumstances it would be interesting to see how the members react at its AGM here on September 21.
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