The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet again set to defy the Lodha Committee by holding its 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on Wednesday on September 22. The Supreme Court appointed committee had directed the BCCI that its AGM must be “limited only to routine business” concerning the past year (2015-16) and deal with matters relating to the next year only after the adoption of the Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Rules as per the committee’s recommendations. However, the board is in no mood to follow suit.
As per the notice issued by the Board secretary Ajay Shirke on August 31, informing all the members about the AGM, elections of the secretary has been mentioned as item No. 6 on the agenda of the meeting, while the item referrers to elections of the working and all other special committees of the board.
The BCCI is also scheduled to appoint its representative on the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The cricket body will also appoint an ombudsman, and auditors for the next financial year and fix their remuneration.
“This is 100% violation of the Supreme Court order. We will seek to appoint new administrators, who will replace the existing BCCI office-bearers. Contempt of court proceedings will be initiated against the office-bearers of the BCCI and officials of those state associations who have not complied with the instructions of the committee. This would include jail terms for those who’re guilty of contempt,” a source in the Lodha panel told TOI on Sunday.
The election process for the secretary’s post has been kept fairly transparent for the first time. The board has appointed an independent election officer, PB Sawant, retired SC judge justice to oversee the secretary’s election.