Thakur, Shirke to guide BCCI, member units on Lodha recommendations

The BCCI has authorised its president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke to look into the legal ramifications of the Supreme Court verdict that approved the Lodha Committee's recommendations and guide the board and its member units. While there was no official statement from the BCCI, sources that attended the meeting confirmed that Thakur and Shirke will, in conjunction with the newly formed legal panel, engage with the Lodha Committee, and they will represent the concerns of the state associations as well.

"This (Lodha Committee verdict) was the single-point agenda, and it was one [short, focused meeting] that lasted about half an hour to 45 minutes," a state association official from the east zone told ESPNcricinfo. "The BCCI has the legal cell. We as a state association don't know the legal aspects but somebody has to take care of such things. So, the SGM was called to authorise the secretary and the president to look into it. Concerns of individual state associations were not discussed; it was [a discussion] on the whole as reforms are meant for everybody."

Another official from a southern state said state associations had been instructed to direct their legal queries to the board's lawyers who will advise them on the future course of action. According to him, however, the board's first task would be to seek clarifications regarding its own functioning.

"On August 9, the president and secretary are supposed to meet the Lodha Committee," the official said. "The first priority is clarifications regarding the BCCI, only then will state associations come into the picture. Clarifications on all matters - when should the constitution be amended and how, the recommendations, and we also have the AGM coming up in September - will be sought."

While there has been speculation that the BCCI is inclined to file a review petition challenging the Supreme Court's verdict, the official said it was a decision the president and secretary would make based on the legal advice they get. "There will be greater clarity once they meet the Lodha Committee on the ninth," he said.

The official also said there was no instruction from the board regarding elections of the Karnataka State Cricket Association and the Cricket Association of Bengal. The Lodha Committee had directed the CAB and KSCA to put their polls - scheduled for July 31 and August 7 respectively - on hold. "The BCCI will give its opinion on it. There will be more clarity after they discuss with the Lodha Committee. We are not going to raise anything as far as state associations are concerned, let the BCCI do. The states will fall in place thereafter."