The Supreme Court Appointed Committee of Administrators on Monday ordered the closure Board of Control for Cricket in India's office in New Delhi. The office was opened after ousted BCCI president Anurag Thakur took charge.
Meanwhile, Nishant Arora, one of the two media managers of the BCCI resigned from his position due to his alleged “proximity with Thakur”. Arora, who has been with the BCCI for over 18 months, was brought in by Thakur. He is credited with playing a major role in streamlining the media related processes of the cricket board.
Diana Edulji, member of the COA, told PTI that Arora's ouster was not recommended by the committee specifically. It had purely recommended shutting down of the Delhi office as the COA felt an office in the national capital was not needed. BCCI runs all its operations from its headquarters Cricket Centre located at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
"We had just said that president's office in Delhi should be shut down and all those recruited in Delhi office will need to go. We never named Nishant, but if he is a Delhi Office recruit then he has to go. But if his media manager's contract is independent of it, then Rahul (BCCI CEO Rahul Johri) takes a final call. Nishant's replacement will also be decided by Rahul," said Edulji.
The Delhi office staff mostly consisted of Thakur's aides who helped him in his cricket related work during his time as president.
It is reliably learnt that Arora received a call from Johri who advised him to resign as the COA and Lodha Committee did not want him. Johri conveyed it to Arora only verbally and not in writing. Arora tendered his resignation on Sunday evening with Johri reportedly sending back a one word response— “Accepted”. There were demands from within the BCCI that Arora stop operating from Delhi and move to Mumbai to be alongside remaining professional staff at the cricket headquarters. But whether Arora got that option from Johri is unclear.
Edulji made it clear that Arora's sacking was not on specific instruction and as far as Lodha Commission is concerned, it has taken a hands off approach post the last order of the apex court.
A media report two days ago had accused Arora of leaking to Thakur the “dressing room as well as BCCI news”. It had also alleged that the media manager was present in meetings like team management meetings where his presence was not required. Arora, however, has denied those allegations.
It appears that under the Vinod Rai-led COA, none of the remaining BCCI officials including Johri can take their position for granted. Even a sliver of evidence of emails and confidential news being leaked to the old guard would draw strict action from COA.
