BCCI to consider Lodha reforms at September 30 SGM

The BCCI has decided to convene a special general meeting on September 30 in Mumbai to "consider" the amendments recommended by the Lodha Committee to the rules and regulations of the board.

"That [convening the SGM] is part of our compliance report, so we are sticking to that," BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke told reporters in Mumbai at the conclusion of the AGM.

The Lodha Committee, in its first set of timelines for the implementation of its reforms, had directed the BCCI to adopt the amended Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulation by September 30. The state associations were also asked to amend their constitutions within the same period. Asked if the board would adopt a revised constitution on the day of the SGM, Shirke said it was subject to factors that were "external" to the BCCI.

On August 31, in an email to BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri, the Lodha Committee spokesperson had said the AGM should be limited to "routine business concerning the past year [2015-16]" and that "any business or matters relating to the next year [2016-17]" be dealt with only after the BCCI implements the Committee's recommendations.

A press release from the board said the proceedings of the AGM were being conducted for the "compliance of statutory provisions under which the BCCI is constituted" to ensure that day-to-day operations don't suffer, and was "subject to the orders of the honourable Supreme Court." Shirke also said the BCCI had communicated details regarding the AGM to the Lodha panel. "And, of course, we will submit our second progress report also which is due," he said.

When asked about the validity of his election as secretary, Shirke defended it as the fulfillment of of a day-to-day function. Shirke, however, said the board would abide by the court's decision should it disagree with the BCCI's view. "One can question anything, but the BCCI has to function. You will agree that the BCCI has to function on a day-to-day basis," he said. "There is the 500th Test match starting tomorrow. Do we say that, 'ok, the BCCI will function without the secretary?'

"The secretary is the principal officer whose election had come to an end, and going forward - whether it is to take instructions from the court or take decisions arising out of court [judgment] - the secretary is the empowered person. This is merely carrying out our day-to-day affairs and all our decisions are subject to any orders of the court. It might be that tomorrow the court says that, 'listen, everything is bad or illegal', we will have to go by that."

It is understood the board had sought legal opinion before going ahead with the AGM. "The board has got legal opinion from one Mr Ashok Desai, a Supreme Court advocate, on the timelines drawn up by the Lodha Committee," a state official, who attended the AGM, told ESPNcricinfo. "They [Lodha Committee] haven't stopped the board from doing it [carrying out routine business at the AGM]. That is what [BCCI has been given as legal opinion]."