BCCI has begun implementing Lodha reforms - Shirke

On a day when the Lodha Committee handed over to the BCCI its first set of timelines for the implementation of its reforms, the Indian board has said it began the process of implementing them immediately after the Supreme Court issued its order on the matter on July 18. This is a markedly conciliatory position from the BCCI - it is the first time it has admitted to beginning the process of implementing the recommendations - which had till now adopted a combative stance for the most part.

The BCCI has till September 30 to, among other things, amend its rules and regulations, as per the Lodha directive issued on Tuesday. The first phase of reform, comprising recommendations on 11 topics with sub-divisions, is to be completed by October 15. In all, the court had given the BCCI a maximum of six months to implement all the recommendations, from the date of issue of the order.

Despite the process being set in motion, BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, who had met with the Lodha Committee on Tuesday to discuss the deadlines, indicated that the board's reservations over the verdict remained; he said it would continue to pursue its legal challenge of the verdict.

"Whatever BCCI is doing… the implementation process is going on; there is unanimous agreement on both sides that till - or if - the court stays it, this report is to be implemented," Shirke told ESPNcricinfo after meeting with the Lodha Committee in Delhi. "The process [of implementation] is already going on. The process started from July 18.

"The legal process [against the verdict] is a totally different matter; the implementation [of the recommendations] is a totally different matter. [Filing the review petition against the verdict] is a totally separate process. We have time till August 18 [30 days since the Supreme Court's verdict]. We will file it whenever it's ready."

According to a press release from the Lodha Committee, Shirke will have to furnish a report of compliance to the timelines by August 25. The BCCI was also directed to ensure "full transparency" of all tenders floated and bids invited by it, and all contracts entered into with effect from July 18. This will include the broadcast rights awarded to Star India for the two-match T20I series to be played in the USA later this month.

The first list of recommendations to be implemented include adopting amendments to the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the BCCI, the amendment of constitutions of state and member associations, reorganisation of the zones, and setting in motion the creation of the players' association.

Shirke said the meeting had been "very good", and that there was no acrimony in light of the remarks made by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, who was appointed by the BCCI to advise it on the Lodha verdict. "[There was] no problem," Shirke said. "They are all justices of the highest court. What do you expect? People at a certain level can easily differentiate things.

"How does Justice Katju's [remarks] come up in this meeting? When the meeting was called for implementation of [the Lodha recommendations] how does he feature in that?"

BCCI president Anurag Thakur, who is also a member of parliament with India's ruling party, the BJP, couldn't attend the meeting with parliament in session. Shirke felt Thakur's absence was unlikely to attract contempt proceedings from the Lodha Committee, considering that he had a legitimate reason.

"It is not a problem because he has already given a very valid reason," Shirke said. "The parliament is on and the letter to that effect has already been submitted. According to me, that's not an issue. If the committee feels it's an issue then it's for them to decide."