BCCI, Lodha panel lock horns over funds

Ex-chief justice says accounts not frozen; board says stopping funds to state bodies will hit matches

R M Lodha and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President, Anurag Thakur, spent most of Tuesday exchanging allegations and clarifications regarding the Lodha committee’s decision to allegedly freeze BCCI funds.

On Monday, the Supreme Court-appointed committee had asked YES Bank and Bank of Maharashtra to stop disbursements of large funds from the BCCI to state cricket associations. The BCCI retaliated by suggesting this would hamper the functioning of cricket  and could jeopardise the ongoing India-New Zealand series.

The BCCI argued that state associations were dependant on the parent body for organising matches and they were unable to carry on their functioning in the wake of the latest directive from the panel, affecting their preparations for the upcoming matches in the ongoing series against New Zealand.

“The members are pained at the treatment meted out to them,” a senior BCCI official told PTI.“They (state bodies) are dependent on the BCCI’s funds for organising matches. So far, seven associations have communicated their inability to host games in the home season, while nine have inquired about the matter. If things are the way they are, the series (against New Zealand) could be called off by this evening.”

On Tuesday, after media reports of the India-NZ series being canned halfway started circulating, Lodha clarified that the panel had not stopped the BCCI from using funds for ongoing matches and/or scheduled series.

In an interview to NDTV, Lodha said, “I don’t think there is any reason to cancel that (the India-NZ series). As I explained, they are free to deal with the funds for incurring expenses on matches in the ongoing series. So, I don’t find any reason or justification for cancellation of any match. There is no question. No well-wisher of the game would like the game to be affected. The game must go on. Matches must go on. And for that, whatever expenses are required to be incurred, they are free to do that.”

The former chief justice also clarified that the board's accounts had not been frozen. “Our email is very clear and should there be any confusion in the mind of the BCCI, and they seek any clarification, we will do that readily. But, otherwise, now we intend to clarify that our email does not put any constraint on the BCCI in so far as ongoing series or scheduled series or matches or game is concerned.”

Thakur, however, maintained that the committee was interfering with the working of the BCCI and this would lead to a financial crisis for the sport. He said the body might not have any money to pay players if this continued.

Phone calls and SMSs to Thakur seeking clarifications about his statements went unanswered.

The BCCI had at its special general meeting on Friday decided to allot some funds to state associations. These disbursements have now been frozen by the Supreme Court-appointed panel’s directions.

As of now, the India-NZ series is to continue as scheduled, as neither broadcaster STAR India nor the New Zealand Cricket Board have been told otherwise. STAR India pays the BCCI Rs 40-45 crore a match. STAR had in 2012 won the media rights to BCCI matches for six years for Rs 3,851 crore.