I couldn't see BCCI being destroyed: Shashank Manohar

“I did whatever was good and in the interests of the Board even before the Lodha panel was formed,” Manohar said in an interaction at the BCCI headquarters, reported the Hindu.

The 58-year-old pointed out that the BCCI are performing their administrative duties more efficiently than most of the cricket boards in the world. Manohar is fearful that implementing all the changes of Lodha report might end up destroying the organization.

“If these things are to be implemented, I am not the person who is capable of it. There are many people in the Board who are capable of doing it. I can’t see an organisation, which so many people have worked hard for, being destroyed. In the entire world of cricket, India is doing better in administration and infrastructure. What more do you expect? No institution in this world is perfect and it is evolving, and you have to change. I also believe it is the people who make the difference and not the statutes or provisions,” he explained.

Reports suggest that a lot of board members were not pleased about Manohar's decision to step down just when the organization was fighting such a big legal battle in the Supreme Court. However, Manohar feels that he has done everything in his power to steer the BCCI clear of this mess.

“I did my best.

“What I could implement with regards to the Lodha panel report, I have looked at the affidavit, briefed the council and State association, and whatever was possible from my side, I have done. It is not just in my hands. It is now with the Supreme Court,” he said.

Manohar also insisted that most of the recommendations of the Lodha panel have already been implemented, but he has his reservations about few of them. He said, “As far as the Lodha Committee report is concerned, I respect Justice Lodha very much, because he was one of the finest judges this country has produced. He is a very honest, upright person.

“In the report he has given regarding the functioning of the Board, 75 per cent of the recommendations are very good and, out of that, most of them are already implemented.

“However, I have my own reservations with regard to a few recommendations, which, according to me, are not in the interests of this Board.”