dna has reliably learnt that despite knowing well to not go ahead with the process of announcing new selection panel, BCCI has started conducting interviews for the same for the last two days.
September 21 has become a very significant day for all cricket followers in India. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) set to conduct its 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai, the signals are that the top brass has decided to go against the diktat of Justice RM Lodha panel, which has warned it to stick to just "routine business" on Wednesday.
dna has reliably learnt that despite knowing well to not go ahead with the process of announcing new selection panel, BCCI has started conducting interviews for the same for the last two days. Some of the short-listed former players were interviewed in Delhi on Monday while a few others were given time in a Mumbai hotel on Tuesday.
With BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke only returning on Tuesday from an overseas trip, the interviews were conducted by its president Anurag Thakur and CEO Rahul Johri.
In fact, one of the questions that was posed before a candidate was regarding his views on Justice Lodha panel recommendation of reducing the selection panel strength from five to three.
"I was asked about my views on whether this suggestion is good or bad for cricket," a former player disclosed to this paper after his interview.
Who is guiding BCCI?
Some of the BCCI members, however, are feeling frustrated with the way president Anurag Thakur has been hell bent on defying Supreme Court orders to implement Lodha panel recommendations.
In fact, most of the officials were not even consulted before consulting former Apex court judge Markandey Katju on the issue of filing review petition. dna has also reliably learnt that Thakur was even strongly advised by his own party senior member (who was involved with BCCI for long) "to not go against the order of Apex court".
Further on the agenda for the AGM is the picking of the selection committee, adding new members to the Working Committee, electing standing committees, choosing a new ombudsman, nominating a representative to attend ICC and Asian Cricket Council meetings, approving the budget for the next calendar year, and appointing auditors for the next financial year.
Whereas, Lodha panel is clear that unless the board adopts the new Memorandum of Association and Rules, any appointments could be considered contempt of court.
A source close to Lodha panel has already repeated it many a time that "it is visibly frustrated and not happy with the way BCCI is delaying implementation of new reforms".
"They (BCCI) have to be like little school boys and obey and implement the recommendations according to the specified timelines. We are getting sick and tired of this. We're keenly watching the AGM's proceedings on Wednesday," the source added.
But BCCI president was in no mood to concede ground to the Lodha panel. "Just wait for two more days. You and I can't decide sitting here what will happen in the AGM," was how Thakur reacted to dna's query on holding secretary's (Shirke) elections in the AGM. The BCCI, on Tuesday evening, sent a mail saying that Shirke's was the only nomination for the post of honorary secretary's post.
"If BCCI goes ahead with the secretary election during the AGM or even conduct anything beyond 'routine business' which has been made amply clear by Panel then that would amount to a clear contempt of court," came the answer from the source.
The source further added that BCCI's decision to call the IPL media rights has gone against the directive issued by the panel. "At the meeting with the Secretary BCCI on 9th August 2016, specific directions were given to ensure that all bids, tenders and contracts entered into by and on behalf of the BCCI after 18.7.2016 are to comply with the requirements of the recommendations," Justice Lodha panel website has stated clearly.
The first deadline as per Lodha panel is September 30, by when the BCCI and state associations need to amend their constitutions and adopt the new Memorandum of Association and Rules.
The second is December 15, by when the board must hold elections to form a nine-member Apex Council to replace the working committee and hold its AGM.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Anurag Thakur")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}