Even as the unofficial meeting of ousted Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ended in Bengaluru after discussing future options including the possibility of a break-away cricket board, 18 state associations have written to the Lodha Committee asking for clarifications and directions on the way ahead.
This comes at a time when England is set to resume its second leg of Indian tour — two warm-up games against India A on January 10 and 12, followed by three ODI games and two Twenty20 internationals. It is reliably learnt that a disgruntled ousted BCCI administrator approached England and Wales Cricket Board representative in ICC to stop the visiting team from arriving in India. He cited a reason that the “series was unlikely to happen”.
Another attempt was allegedly made to get the Maharashtra Cricket Association to throw in the towel on hosting the first One Day match scheduled to be held in Pune on January 15. The eligible office-bearer reportedly refused to accede to this suggestion citing the Supreme Court order, revealed a cricket insider.
“The new dispensations have written to Lodha Committee asking for guidance and clarification. 18 associations have seen the writing on the wall,” said a source. Due to the pressing urgency, given that both the domestic and international seasons are underway, the Lodha Committee will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to provide appropriate directions.
Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association, Haryana Cricket Association and Orissa Cricket Association have not yet gotten in touch with the Lodha Committee.
The meeting on Saturday, held at a five star resort on the outskirts of Bengaluru, was called by former BCCI president N.Srinivasan.Those who attended remained tight-lipped about the proceedings. “I came to meet my old friends,” was how one ousted official from South India described the meeting.
Many prominent names kept away from the meeting too, not wanting to draw the ire of the Supreme Court by being associated with the deposed regime. The prominent cricket administrators who stayed away included the likes of Sharad Pawar, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sourav Ganguly. There were also a few others who weren't physically present, but lent their silent support.
Mostly, the meeting was of those who were forced to end their innings in BCCI and state associations, post the apex court order of January 3.
Upset over the untimely demise of their cricket administration stints, many want the sport to be disrupted so that the Lodha Committee, as well as the Supreme Court of India, could be discredited in the eyes of the public.
