Opinion BCCI vs Court
The world’s richest cricket body must act to clean up its stables before its wiggle room is taken away.
Anurag Thakur said a decision was taken that any bilateral match between India and Pakistan will not be held in Dharamsala but the World T20 game must take place as the
state and country's image is at stake. (Source: PTI) 
BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur
When the apex court told the BCCI, in response to the affidavit against the Lodha panel recommendations, that it might prompt the panel to review a few proposals, it by no means suggested a respite for the latter. “There is no question of you wanting it. We, the Supreme Court, will decide whether we are inclined to send some restricted issues back to the committee for its decision,” the bench asserted.
That the court, while understanding that some of the recommendations are slightly implausible and factoring in the board’s autonomy, still stood firmly by the Lodha panel, is best exemplified by its retort to BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who had written in the affidavit that the panel didn’t seek his views on the proposed recommendations. “The whole world knew this. So what were you doing? Waiting at the fence for a written invitation?”
The panel, while questioning the BCCI’s priorities, reiterated that they should at no point compromise on the interests of the viewers. “The prominent spirit should be viewer enjoyment. Do you mean that your commercial interests should take over the enjoyment of the viewers?” the bench asked. It was a timely rebuke for the board, which had been immune to the fans’ comfort and convenience — taking them for granted clearly, in the build-up to the T20 World Cup, as in the late start to online ticket sales and the uncertainty over a couple of prominent venues. Given the throbbing political subtext of the ongoing issues Delhi and Dharamshala are mired in, the Lodha panel’s recommendation that politicians shouldn’t hold any post in the board sounds more logical than ever.
Going by what transpired in the court on Thursday, the drama could drag on for a few more feisty episodes. But it won’t be long before the court starts dictating terms to the BCCI. And then there would hardly be any wriggle room for the world’s richest cricket body.
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