Board SGM still opposes 5 key reforms

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) accepted all reforms recommended by the Supreme Courtappointed Lodha panel, except five contentious issues, including the age and tenure cap.

The Indian cricket board held its Special General Meeting (SGM) here on Wednesday after which acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said due to ‘practical difficulties’ it was not possible to adopt some of the reforms.

“It was unanimously decided by the members present at the meeting that it wasn’t possible to adopt certain reforms. A resolution has been passed and details will be submitted to the Supreme Court,” Choudhary said.

The issues that have not been accepted will be up for debate in the court. The next SC hearing is on August 18. The issues BCCI did not implement were the age cap of 70 years, cooling-off period of three years, tenure of nine years each at the state and BCCI and the fund distribution policy. The issue of membership --- one state, one vote -- wasn’t agreed to. Choudhary said since associate members were from government departments including Railways with full voting rights, an employee or the minister con- cerned will represent them.

The BCCI also proposed an increase in the number of members in the Apex Council from five to six. The council includes president, secretary, treasurer, joint-secretary and vice-president. The plan is to add another vice-president.

The BCCI followed the apex court directive to keep out former president N Srinivasan and ex-secretary Niranjan Shah from the SGM as only state unit office-bearers, and not representatives, were allowed. But it also kept out CEO Rahul Johri as he is a paid employee, arguing that only office-bearers were allowed.