BCCI hits back at Lodha Committee's ‘micromanagement’

Thakur’s outburst came after the Lodha Committee directed the BCCI to submit the minutes of its Emergent Working Committee meeting and Special General Meeting held in Mumbai on Sept 30-Oct 1 by Oct 5, after originally threatening to freeze BCCI’s bank accounts and stopping payments to state units that put the remainder of the New Zealand series in jeopardy.

“Tell me how do you play without (money) being available to states (state cricketing boards) and players. BCCI does not organise matches on its own. It is done by the states concerned in coordination and support from the BCCI. For that the BCCI pays them money. This move will jeopardise the cricketing calendar for the year,” Thakur told Firstpost.

“To the best of my understanding of the SC ruling on the appointment of the Lodha panel, its mandate was to make necessary recommendations to the BCCI and not to judge its day to day functioning.

“No one can say that Indian cricket and BCCI are not functioning efficiently and have not brought in adequate reforms. One would have to care to see the good work done by us. BCCI is a professionally run organisation.

“See the rankings: India is number one in world in Test cricket, number one in T20, number three in ODI. We organise a highly popular IPL. All these come with the consistent and tireless efforts of the Indian team and the BCCI.

“We don't take a penny from the government even to build a world class stadium. We, in fact, pay the government through various modes as required.”