BCCI’S payment disclosure missing?

Transparency was only a word for the Indian cricket board. During his second term as the president of the BCCI, Shashank Manohar adopted the practice of displaying on its website all BCCI payments made above Rs. 25 lakhs in the month, in the first week of the following month.

This practice continued for a few months after he resigned from the post and Anurag Thakur took over.

However, since the last payment disclosure for the month of August, which was not updated till September 28, disclosure of the payment for the month of September has not been displayed on the BCCI website to date.

Interestingly, the BCCI has made a few hurried payments to a few state associations in the month of September, for which the Supreme Court and Lodha Committee have expressed reservations. Bcci-appointed lawyer Markandey Katzu’s payment, if made above Rs. 25 lakhs, has not been made public.

Nobody in the board has responded as to when these disclosures would be made public.

In the meantime, Anurag Thakur, President, BCCI, is likely to miss yet another deadline to meet the Lodha Panel.

The Supreme Court, in its order dated October 21, directed BCCI chief Thakur, and Ajay Shirke, Secretary, BCCI, to meet the Lodha Committee within two weeks to explain the manner of compliance. They (the President and Secretary) are also directed to keep the Committee apprised about the steps taken.

The Order was prepared by Justice Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud (son of the late Y.V. Chandrachud who investigated the match-fixing

Interestingly, the BCCI has made a few hurried payments to a few state associations in the month of September, for which the Supreme Court and Lodha Committee have expressed reservations. Bcci-appointed lawyer Markandey Katzu’s payment, if made above Rs. 25 lakhs, has not been made public

scandal of 2000) and is signed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) T.S. Thakur and his colleague A.M. Khanwilkar. However, according to BCCI sources, Thakur is believed to have left for Norway on Tuesday and unlikely to return before Monday, and he may miss the “two week” deadline, which expires later this week. Interestingly, the Supreme Court is also “not satisfied” with the draft minutes of a Working Committee meeting of the Shashank Manohar BCCI (held on August 22, 2016) and termed it as purported.

Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, in his original affidavit claimed there was no discussion between Anurag Thakur, President – BCCI and Dave Richardson – CEO ICC regarding the BCCI’S demand of a letter from the ICC, but the draft minutes submitted by their lawyer, Kapil Sibal, state otherwise.

The Committee is believed to have sought clarification from Shashank Manohar, Chairman, ICC on the issue.