‘No money, no game’: BCCI asks SC to release funds for Rajkot Test

The Indian cricket board has moved the Supreme Court, seeking funds for the Wednesday’s Test match between India and England to be played in Rajkot.

The Indian cricket board has moved the Supreme Court, seeking funds for Wednesday’s Test match between India and England to be played in Rajkot.

This photograph taken on August 31 shows a general view of The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on the outskirts of Rajkot, some 240km, from Ahmedabad. (AFP)

Non-disbursal of money would result in the cancellation of the first Test, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which is in a deadlock with a court-appointed panel that has called for an overhaul of the way the game is administered in the country, told the court on Tuesday.

The court has stopped the BCCI from releasing funds to state associations till they accept the Lodha Committee reforms. The Saurashtra cricket association is the host for the Rajkot game.

Read: Here are some key Lodha panel reforms, instances of BCCI rejecting them

Read: India vs England series on the line as BCCI misses SC deadline on Lodha reforms

The Lodha panel opposed the BCCI submission, saying the board was in contempt, as it had failed to obey the court’s directions.

Chief Justice of India TS Thakur would decide if the case would be heard on Tuesday itself.

The BCCI had on November 3 missed a Supreme Court deadline on accepting the Lodha panel reforms.

On October 21, the court had directed the BCCI president to submit an “unqualified undertaking”, saying the board was accepting the reforms in totality.

The reforms aimed at a transparent BCCI include age and tenure caps and a one-state-one unit policy among others.

England are to play five Tests, three one-day internationals and as many T20s in the November-December series.

Read: BCCI vs Lodha panel: Why board’s legal committee head is angry