CoA lashes out at Srinivasan, Shah

In its fourth status report, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has made scathing observations against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The Vinod Rai-led committee's comments have come two days before the Supreme Court holds its hearing over the implementation of the Lodha Commitee by the BCCI.

In a pointed assesment, CoA admitted its efforts to form a consensus among the state units came to a nought before bringing to the notice how the June 26 SGM was “disruptive.”

The report, particularly, named former BCCI president N Srinivasan and Niranjan Shah as disqualifed office bearers with vested interests.

"The SGM held on June 26 was manifestly disruptive. Before the meeting a substantial consensus has been arrived at as a result of mutual deliberations between CoA and various constituent members of BCCI."

"The SGM on June 26 was attended by various persons who are disqualified from being office bearers of BCCI and/ or their respective state/ member associations including N Srinivasan (represented TNCA) and Niranjan Shah (Saurashtra CA) amongst others."

"Such disqualified persons have a vested interest in stalling implementation of judgement because if the judgement is implemented, such disqualified persons will have to relinquish control over their respective state associations.”

An audio recording of the relevant portion of the proceedings during SGM held on June 26, which pertains to the agenda item relating to implementation of judgement, has also been submitted.

The panel also slammed the BCCI members for the reluctance to adopt the existing BCCI constitution and violating conflict of interest rule. The COA has recommended six names for Ombudsman for the court's perusal.

The report, however, praised acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary for his sincerity towards the implementation of reforms but accused treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary of being a "mute spectator" and lacking the courage or conviction to speak in favour of the implementation of reforms. The two had taken the undertaking in the Supereme Court to abide by and implement the directions contained in the judgement.

In another blow to the BCCI members, the panel has requested the court to adopt a new constitution, drafted by the Lodha committee, simultaneously on cricket board and state associations.

The committee has pressed upon that BCCI should implement it at the earliest and “Prior to Septmeber 2017” so that the scheduled BCCI AGM could take place smoothly. The CoA request comes after the BCCI's failure to impose the constitution on its own in totality. The deadline recommended for the member associations to amend their respective constitutions is December 31, 2017.

The panel has also requested the court to reconsitute the steering committee headed by former Union Home Secretary GK Pillai so that the process of establishing players' association can take place. Since Diana Edulji, who was nominated to the Steering Committee is a CoA member, Mohinder Amarnath and Anil Kumble, who were originally nominated by the apex court, have stated their inabity to accept the role while the CoA has recommended replacements in former cricketers Kapil Dev, Aunshuman Gaekwad and Bharat Reddy.