CAB, KSCA elections frozen as per Lodha Committee directive

The Supreme Court appointed Lodha Committee, whose recommended reforms are to be implemented by the BCCI in the next six months, has directed the Indian board to freeze all elections post Monday's order.

On Tuesday the Lodha Committee secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan had warned that if the BCCI or states failed to follow the recommendations, they would be guilty of contempt of court. However confusion persists.

The directive effectively means that Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections, which were supposed to be held on July 31, now stand frozen along with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) polls, which were scheduled for August 7.

Similarly, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA)'s elections held yesterday, which saw state minister Imran Raza Ansari being elected as president, now stand null and void.

On Wednesday KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mrutyanjaya told ESPNcricinfo: "The secretary of the Lodha Committee has sent a mail to us, based on the complaint he has received, telling us to [put on] hold the election until necessary [further] directions. We saw the complaint [where] the complainant has given the feeling as if we have started the election process after the Supreme Court judgment on July 18, but our election process started on July 11 as per the existing bylaws.

"However, we are considering the entire recommendations [of the Lodha Committee] and conducting this election. We have sent a clarification to the secretary of this committee that the election process was started on July 11 and that we are implementing the Supreme Court order in the conduct of the election. So, I don't see any reason for them to stop the election. We should get a go ahead based on the clarification given."

Having sent a "preliminary" response to the Lodha Committee yesterday Mrutunjaya said the KSCA was sending another "detailed" e-mail to the Lodha Committee about why it believes they are clear to go ahead with the elections next month. "We are implementing every recommendation (so) I don't think they would like to stop the elections. We will wait for them to respond."

According to Sankaranarayanan, however, no KSCA email had yet been received by him. "We have not received any reply from the KSCA. The Lodha Committee is not concerned when the election process started, they are only concerned with complying with the Supreme Court order. So if the KSCA wishes to proceed with their elections, they can seek clarification from the Supreme Court. Failing which, they will be in contempt of court."

Meanwhile, CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey told ESPNcricinfo: "The AGM, which was supposed to be held on July 31, has been cancelled. We decided it this evening."

The Lodha Committee is understood to have sent the directive to all BCCI office-bearers including president Anurag Thakur, secretary Ajay Shirke, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and joint-secretary Amitabh Choudhary. The letter states that all elections in the BCCI and state associations should be "kept on hold".

"The Committee is in the process of preparing an action plan along with timelines as directed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court to implement the reforms and supervise the transition as swiftly as possible. Until further intimations in this regard, it is directed that the BCCI and the State Associations keep on hold all elections and electoral processes under the Rules existing as on 18.7.2016.

"The same may be conveyed to all the various Members and State Associations by the BCCI. Needless to say, any steps taken after the Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgment which are inconsistent with its directions will be treated as null and void."