MCA decides to keep writ pending

in direct violation of the Lodha Panel's recommendations.

While Khoda was from the earlier panel, Mumbai batsman Paranjpe was newly inducted in the panel during the BCCI AGM on September 21.

The three others in the panel are MSK Prasad, Devang Gandhi and Sarandeep Singh -- all Test players but with collective experience of 13 matches in longest format.

"It's unlikely that Gagan and Jatin can be kept in selection panel. In any case, I don't think BCCI is now in a position to get into further confrontation with apex court and it's appointed panel," a very senior BCCI officebearer told PTI.

"If we remove Gagan and Jatin, it will in any case conform with panel's guidelines of having three ex Test players as senior selectors.

"We have a long home season and you don't want a situation where you don't have selectors going into ODIs followed by Test series against England and Australia."

Since the SC deadline for BCCI is October 6, the Special General Meeting scheduled on Friday in Mumbai bears a lot of significance.

Since the panel had recommended in having 'Talent Scouts' who will help national selectors, there is a possibility that Khoda and Paranjpe could be offered 'Scouts' job who would be watching domestic matches. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Wednesday decided to keep its writ petition filed in the Bombay High Court, contending that the BCCI cannot force it to implement the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Panel report since it is governed by the provisions of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, "pending".

"A decision was taken at the MCA managing committee meeting to keep it pending till the proceedings of the SGM of the BCCI on September 30 (in Mumbai)," MCA joint secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar said. It was learnt that midway through the meeting of the MCA chaired by its 75year-old president Sharad Pawar a telephone call was received by the Maratha strongman from Delhi. MCA sources said that Pawar got details of the Supreme Court's stinging remarks asking BCCI to "fall in line" after the Lodha panel sought removal of the top brass of BCCI, including its President Anurag Thakur and Secretary Ajay Shirke, for non-compliance of the apex court's directions. If the recommendations of the Lodha committee are implemented in letter and spirit, the NCP supremo will have to relinquish the post as the suggestions of the panel do not allow those above 70 years of age to hold an administrative position in BCCI or its affiliated units.

MCA, in its petition, claimed that the BCCI cannot "direct" it to implement the recommendations made in the 159-page report submitted by the three-member Lodha committee to the Supreme Court.

According to MCA, it is governed by the rules of the Bombay Public Trusts Act. The petition is likely to come up for hearing before a division bench of the High Court on September 30, and it's to be seen what stand MCA takes on the matter post the BCCI SGM. In July, Pawar, after a meeting of the MCA's managing committee, had said he was going to retire from cricket administration. The Supreme Court, in July, had directed BCCI and the state cricket associations to implement all the recommendations of the Lodha committee within six months. -PTI