Ganguly part of special panel on Lodha reforms

Tribune news service

New Delhi, June 27

BCCI has named Sourav Ganguly, the former India captain, in a seven-member committee to analyse the few contentious Lodha Committee recommendations which are being opposed by BCCI’s state units.

The committee, headed by senior BCCI official Rajeev Shukla, includes TC Mathew (former Kerala Cricket Association president), Naba Bhattacharjee (Meghalaya Cricket Association Secretary), Jay Shah (Gujarat Cricket Association secretary and son of BJP president Amit Shah), BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, who will be the convener of the committee.

According to BCCI, the committee’s mandate is to “identify the few critical points in respect of the said judgement for the General Body of BCCI to consider before its submission to the Hon’ble Supreme Court”.

Hearing on July 14

BCCI had decided to form the committee at its Special General Meeting in Mumbai yesterday.

“In view of the fact that the next date of hearing (in the Supreme Court) in the matter is fixed for July 14, 2017, the committee is requested to fix an early date for its meeting in order to ensure that the above task is undertaken with utmost urgency and its written report circulated by July 10, 2017 so that the same may be considered by the General Body and finalised prior to the above hearing,” said Amitabh Choudhary today.

“BCCI acting president CK Khanna will be apprised on a regular basis on the deliberations of the committee and the report shall finally be submitted to him to present it to the General Body,” Choudhary added.

Bone of contention

The four contentious Lodha Committee recommendations which are delaying the complete implementation of the reforms are one-state one-vote, age cap of 70 for office-bearers, cooling-off period for office-bearers, and the size of the national team selection committee.

Some of the members in the special committee are already performing multiple roles in cricket administration.

Ganguly is also the president of Cricket Association of Bengal as well as a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee which has been entrusted with the task of selecting India’s head coach after Anil Kumble's bitter exit. Shukla, a veteran BCCI official, is also the IPL chairman. — with PTI inputs

Everybody has got the right to apply: Ganguly 

Kolkata: Coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli’s rift should have been handled in a mature way, former skipper Sourav Ganguly said. “The matter between Kumble and Kohli should have been handled a lot better, by whoever in charge. It was not handled properly.” On Ravi Shastri’s name in the fray for the team’s head coach job, Ganguly said, “Everybody has got the right to apply. We will find out. I can also apply provided I’m not an administrator.” PTI

Seven-member panel

• Rajeev Shukla (Chairman)
• Amitabh Chaudhary (Convener)
• Sourav Ganguly (Member)
• TC Mathew (Member)
• Naba Bhattacharjee (Member)
• Jay Shah (Member)
• Anirudh Chaudhry (Member)