BCCI paying for Srinivasan’s misdeeds: Thakur

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 5

Following the Supreme Court’s stern warning to the BCCI to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations, the writing is on the wall for the board.

The mood within the generally brash and aggressive board is quite subdued and sombre. It showed when secretary Anurag Thakur said there was no escape route left and the BCCI was paying the price for the “misdeeds” done during the tenure of its former president N Srinivasan.

“We are paying the price for the mistakes done under previous (Srinivasan’s) regime. It resulted in the loss of face and credibility,” said Thakur. “Lack of decision-making during that time tarnished the image of the board.”

Thakur said the board was not shying away from implementing the recommendations. “We are not looking at any escape route. The board is preparing its response for the next hearing in the Supreme Court. For that, our legal committee will meet on February 7. We have called the Special General Body Meeting (SGBM) in the third week of February.

“We have asked our affiliated units to go through the recommendations, hold their managing committee meetings and then get back to the board with their suggestions. One needs to understand it’s a detailed report which will have huge consequences on the functioning of the BCCI. The panel has taken close to 12 months to come up with its report, the board is taking just about two months to deliberate and reach a consensus,” he added.

The deadline for the state units to submit their views was January 31. However, many units are yet to hold the meeting, including the faction-ridden Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA).

Thakur said that had Srinivasan handled the controversies, particularly the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, more diligently, the board wouldn’t have found itself in the current mess. “In the last nine months, we have done things that indicate we are moving in the right direction. We have tried to restore the image of the board, we are doing everything possible to bring in more transparency and accountability.”

Some recommendations need clarity

Thakur feels some of the recommendations require more “clarity” while some others would be difficult to implement. “There are certain things which are not clear. People need to understand that we are one of the best-run boards in the world. It is not that everything that has happened in the last 30-40 years is all wrong. What the board has done for the players all these years should also be considered,” he said.

When asked about the conflict of interest allegations levelled against him – a complaint was filed last week with the BCCI ombudsman regarding his alleged commercial connection with national selector Vikram Rathour – he laughed it off. “Some people have made it a habit of filing conflict of interest complaints with mala fide intentions. Some use it for political advantage, while some has personal vendetta in mind,” he said.

“What is conflict? In England, Kevin Pietersen is playing in the T20 leagues and is also commentating in the same tournament. Similarly, selectors are also commenting. Look, every organisation goes through phases when structural reforms happen and the BCCI is no exception," he said.