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Lodha clarifies, says no freeze
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha said reports on Tuesday claiming that the panel’s directive to freeze the Indian cricket board’s bank accounts
NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha said reports on Tuesday claiming that the panel’s directive to freeze the Indian cricket board’s bank accounts had led to BCCI cancelling the rest of the series against New Zealand was incorrect.
“It’s wrong that we have frozen the accounts of BCCI. Our mail to BCCI and their banks is absolutely clear,” Justice Lodha told HT. “There is absolutely no constraint on BCCI to go on with routine matters.”
Reports quoting an unnamed BCCI source had said the board planned to call off the third Test starting in Indore on Saturday and the subsequent ODI series against New Zealand because it didn’t have money to pay the players after its accounts were frozen on the Lodha panel’s directive.
The Supreme Court-appointed committee had sent an e-mail to the BCCI and its two banks on Monday asking to put on hold decisions taken at its EGM (Emergent General Meeting) on September 30 to make payments to state associations.
The committee’s mail reads: “…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. If BCCI or banks have any doubts then they can approach the committee,” Justice Lodha said.
He also said his committee’s recommendations did not restrict India’s participation in the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled in England next year. “The calendar is already settled… our report is not going to be affected by the window we have provided for the IPL.”
BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke didn’t respond to phone calls and text messages. However, a senior board official said most of the officials came to know that the series could be halted only through news reports.
