The stand-off between the Lodha committee and Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) is getting murkier day by day. On a day when the committee shot an e-mail to Yes Bank and Bank of Maharashtra — the banks handling BCCI finances — to stop disbursing funds to state associations, the board was contemplating on calling of the ongoing New Zealand series.
Though the money in question is about the CLT20, state associations have already been cleared off previous financial year dues with some of them getting as recently as September. However the board believes freezing the account will mean those units set to host the reminder of series against New Zealand will struggle to put things in order and could cause embarrassment to BCCI.
“The accounts have been freezed and how will we pay for logistics and other things. It will be a bad for the image of Indian cricket and we dont want such sorry scene to take plus,” sources in the BCCI said in a late night development.
The amount, that Lodha panel referred to, is the compensation from broadcasters following the scrapping of Champions League T20 last year. The money, around Rs 750 crore, was supposed to be distributed equally among 26 members barring Rajasthan (suspended). During its emergent working committee meeting on September 30, the BCCI decided to distribute the funds apart from the state associations’ annual subsidy (Rs 60 crore).
The panel has taken exception to the decision. In the e-mail, addressed to the two banks and also marked to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, secretary Ajay Shirke and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, the secretary of Lodha panel wrote: “You are aware that by way of this Committee’s direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent.
It is understood the emergent working committee meet which took place on Friday wasn’t brought to the notice of the Lodha panel. As per the original schedule, the BCCI had only called for a special general body meeting which was postponed to Saturday as state representatives arrived without proper letters, Sources in the panel confirmed that minutes and the agenda of both the meetings were not sent to them and they were unaware of it.
“The BCCI tried to disburse the funds without the knowledge of the Lodha committee. It was brought to our attention that Rs 1,100 crore was supposed to be distributed to the state associations and that is why we stepped in. They cannot take any decision on the future,” sources in the panel said. The committee has also warned the Banks not to disburse the money as it will violate orders issued by the Supreme Court.
After the Lodha committee directed the two banks who have been handling, one top BCCI officials asked if that meant even Lodha committee’s payment too be stopped. The BCCI is miffed with the panel for issuing such a directive to the banks. They felt they are being tragetted unnecessarily. “If we are to stop payments, even the Lodha committee will not be paid. The same applies to players and our staff. Should we do that?” said a unit head.