BCCI threatens to call off NZ series, Lodha clarifies

he cricket body has accounts for daily business with Yes Bank and Maharashtra Bank. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) threatening to call off the ongoing series between India and New Zealand, the Justice R M Lodha-led committee on Tuesday clarified that they didn’t direct banks to freeze the accounts of the Board and it carry on with its routine expenses. Fuming at the

defiance of its recommendations, the Lodha panel had “directed” banks, where the BCCI holds accounts, not to disburse “large” funds to the state associations, a decision taken by the Board at its Special General Meeting on September 30. However, Mr. Lodha clarified: “We have not frozen the accounts of BCCI, we have directed the BCCI to not disburse funds to the state association. Day to day affairs, routine expenditure, matches, games, that should go on. There is absolutely no prohibition.” 'Don't freeze accounts' The Committee on Tuesday requested the Yes Bank not to freeze the accounts of the BCCI. This particular action was taken by the panel following reports that the private sector bank has put the BCCI accounts on a debit freeze status. “First of all, we have not received responses to the mails addressed to the BCCI and marked to the banks advising not proceed with disbursing large funds to the State associations. We do not know if the banks have really decided to freeze the BCCI accounts. But we have spoken to Yes Bank and told them not to freeze the BCCI accounts,’’ said a person attached to the committee. The BCCI has accounts for daily business with the Yes Bank and the Maharashtra Bank.

On Monday The committee sent the following mail to the top functionaries of the BCCI and to the Banks:

“It has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the ‘Emergent Working Committee’ meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations. You are aware that by way of this Committee’s direction dated 31.8.2016, no further decisions were to be taken regarding the future apart from routine matters. The disbursement of these amounts are not routine, and in any case, not emergent.’’

“You are also aware that the BCCI has chosen to breach the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court as well as the first set of Timelines set out by this Committee which includes the Fund Disbursement policy to be framed by 30.9.2016. As the status report is to be taken up for directions by the Hon’ble Court on Thursday, 6.10.2016, you are hereby directed not to take any steps towards financial disbursement of the amounts as resolved / approved after the direction dated 31.8.2016. Any violation of this direction will be placed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court for appropriate directions.’’

Justice Lodha himself and Secretary to the committee advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan clarified matters to a number of television channels the operative part of their mail to the BCCI and the banks sent on Monday.

'State associations pained'

The BCCI, however, argued that the State associations were depended on the parent body for organising matches and they were unable to carry on their functioning in the wake of the latest directive from the panel, affecting their preparations for the coming games in the ongoing series against New Zealand.

“The members are pained at the treatment meted out to them. They are dependent on BCCI’s funds for organising matches. So far seven associations have communicated their inability to host games in the home season while nine of them have inquired about the matter. If things are the way they are, the series [against New Zealand] could called off by today evening,” a senior BCCI official said.