Sacked BCCI official called ECB to cancel India tour, claims media report

A top BCCI official had spoken to ECB chief Giles Clarke to persuade him against sending the England team for the upcoming ODI and T20I series in India, reported DNA India. The move was apparently after the Supreme Court had sacked the then BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke along with a host of other BCCI officials.

Following Anurag Thakur’s dismissal, a lot of the ineligible board officials have been trying to upset the smooth functioning of the BCCI under BCCI CEO Rahul Johri. Initial reports suggested that state associations might refuse to host the India-England series on some pretext or the other. One such report, which was later rubbished by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), had claimed that the HCA had expressed their inability to host the upcoming solitary India-Bangladesh Test match.

The Lodha panel is aware of the conversation that took place between the BCCI official and the ECB chief, and Justice Lodha panel secretary Gopal Shankarnarayan has said, "I think it's now evident as to who is really functioning in the interest of cricket. Once they don't have positions of power, they are attempting to interfere with games, make phone calls to selectors and to request the opposition not to arrive in India, there are all evidence of desperate measures."

Former joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary had also attempted to create a hurdle when the selection committee had gathered to pick the team for the ODI and the T20I series. "Everything is being reported in media so whether to bring it to the notice of SC is something that Lodha panel would discuss in due course," said a source in the Lodha panel, reported DNA India.