Implementing Lodha reforms would mean picking between IPL and Champions Trophy: Thakur
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Two days after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took a
selective approach to its adoption of the Lodha panel recommendations, president
Anurag Thakur justified the board's defiance towards some of the necessitated reforms by pointing at the possible implication of accepting the proposals of the Lodha panel in toto. Doing so, according to Thakur, would leave India having to put the brakes on the the fastest growing league in the world - the Indian Premier League - due to the cramped nature of the international calendar.
India's apex court court ratified, among various proposals, the need to have a 15-day gap between India's international calendar and the IPL. Such a proposal, according to Thakur, could push India into having to choose between playing the Champions Trophy or the the IPL, early in 2017.
"As per the Lodha committee recommendations you have to give a 15-day window before and after IPL. There is the Australia series before IPL and Champions Trophy after it. So BCCI has to take a call whether they will play IPL or Champions Trophy - you have to pick one of the two if the Lodha Committee recommendations are implemented in toto. Members can take a call at that time, whether IPL or Champions Trophy," Thakur told mediapersons on the sidelines of the ongoing India-New Zealand Test in Kolkata on Monday (October 3).
"It's going to be a problem every year. You have certain months to play in India. There is a window made available for IPL so you have to take a call whether the world's fastest growing league, which has showcased to the world, how you can make domestic cricket more popular, and given birth to many other leagues like football, hockey, badminton, kabaddi and all that - whether that has to go," he added.
In its October 1 Special General Meeting, BCCI gave in to several of the panel's demands, including the need to have a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the newly-formed apex council. The board's members, however, did not vote in favour of several other key recommendations such as those involving age and tenure caps for board administrators and the one-state-one-vote policy among others. Thakur maintained the board's defiant stand while maintaining that he was not averse to reforms but that BCCI was also bound by Tamil Nadu societies act under which it is registered.
"BCCI is open to reforms. We have taken various steps in the last 18 months, it's a huge list. Even when the recommendations of Lodha came, there was a timeline set. We have lived up to the first timeline, achieved the second timeline, Sept 30 (The BCCI SGM was adjourned by a day)," Thakur said.
"As president, I had to call all the member boards, they can only adopt. If you look at our marathon meetings of 5-6 hrs, we have discussed (the recommendations) at length. Can you have C&AG representative as per TN Act? But they agreed for C&AG. Where members could not agree and could not pass with 3/4th majority were a few decisions that were conveyed to Supreme Court and Lodha committee with the reasons given by the members. We have to follow the law of land. We have highest respect for the Supreme Court. That is why we are following various timelines but at the same time, we are bound by the Tamil Nadu Act.
Thakur also came in defence of the board's reluctance to conform to the one-state-one-vote policy recommended by the Lodha panel. The recommendation, if implemented, could leave associations like the Mumbai Cricket Associations (MCA) having to share their casting votes with Maharashtra and Vidarbha on a rotational basis. Gujarat, Baroda and Saurashtra boards face a similar predicament if the proposal is pushed through.
"Many members felt that if Mumbai won Ranji Trophy for 40-plus times, and founder members like Baroda, states like Gujarat that have coming up with most modern and new stadium with 1.5lakh capacity, if they are taken into one-state-one-vote category, out of six states, six have stadiums, they host international matches, their rights will be taken out. Various things came out from members that can be conveyed to the court," the board president said.
BCCI's insistence on selectively accepting the proposals has irked the Lodha committee, which has asked the board to "fall in line" with the directives on more than one occasion. Earlier last week, the panel had moved the supreme court with a request to override the top management of BCCI for failing to comply to its timelines. The panel is also reportedly miffed by the governing body of cricket's continued disregard for the judgement. BCCI's appointment of the selection panel and the secretary during its Annual General Meeting were contrary to the court order. On its part. BCCI, too, had filed a review petition asking that the July 18 order be suspended until it heard the board's stance against some of the directives.
It will be either IPL or Champions Trophy in 2017: BCCI President Anurag Thakur
India may have to pull out of next year’s Champions Trophy in England if the BCCI implements Justice RM Lodha Committee recommendations in toto, Board president Anurag Thakur warned on Monday.
As per the reforms suggested by the Lodha Panel, there has to be a 15-day window before and after the IPL. The Champions Trophy is scheduled from June 1-18 while IPL is likely to end in last week of May.
“I don’t know whether India will be able to play Champions Trophy or not. If you go by the Lodha Committee report you have to play either the IPL or the Champions Trophy. So BCCI has to take a call on that,” Thakur said.
“There is Australia series before IPL and Champions Trophy after it. So BCCI has to take a call whether they will play IPL or Champions Trophy — you have to pick one of the two if the Lodha Committee recommendations are implemented in toto,” he said to a query that India were insisting to be placed in different group than Pakistan amid rising political tensions.
“The question of India-Pakistan arises only if India plays Champions Trophy.”
On whether the IPL could be scheduled differently, he said: “You tell me how you can do it. I will give you the window.”
Insisting that it would be a problem every year, he said,” You have certain months to play in India. There is a window made available for IPL so you have to take a call whether the world’s fastest growing league, which has showcased to the world how you can make domestic cricket more popular, and give birth to many other leagues like football, hockey, badminton, kabaddi and all that – whether that has to go.”
Thakur also said BCCI has undergone huge reforms in the recent past.
“If you look at the BCCI, it is open about reforms. In the last 18 months, I first appointed Cricket Advisory Committee, hiring greats like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. Selection of the coaches, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble and appointment of CEO and CFOs. We have taken various steps in the last 18 months, there’s a huge list.”
Asked about his response to SC’s ‘fall-in-line or we will make you fall in line’, he said: “I did not see that line in the SC order that is reported in the media.”
“We have passed many recommendations, adopted them as recommended, many could not be adopted by members as they have given various reasons for that. One must appreciate that BCCI was always open about it. Before the recommendations, we have adopted many that were not part of it.
“We have to follow the law of land. We have highest respect for the Supreme Court. That is why we are following various timelines. At the same time, we are bound by the TN Societies Act.”
Singling out the one-state-one-vote and cooling off period of one year after a three-year term for thrice, Thakur said, “Many members felt that if Mumbai won Ranji Trophy for 41 times, and founder members like Baroda, state like Gujarat coming up with most modern and new stadium with 1.5 lakh capacity, if they are taken into 1-state-1-vote category, then out of six states, six have stadiums, they host International matches, their rights will be taken out. Various things came out from members that can be conveyed to the court.”
“Look at the overall leadership. If there is cooling off, there is no continuity in state and BCCI,” Thakur said as an insider pointed out that the new rule would prevent them from becoming an influential administrator.
Citing example of
Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI insider said, “If you take a cooling off period after three years where will the continuity come? How will another Dalmiya will be born. That will only happen with experience in states and the BCCI.”
“It’s like three years you write on cricket and then you become a political writer for one year. I will see how much continuity you have. Thakur became president of HPCA in 2000. If he had retired in 2003 after laying foundation stone then probably the Board President XI-Pakistan match would not have materialised in 2005.”
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