SC sacks top cricket bosses, BCCI ex-chief Anurag Thakur hits back

New Delhi: Anurag Thakur, who was removed from his post of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president on Monday, said it was not a “personal battle” against the Lodha Committee, instead it was a fight to protect the “autonomy” of BCCI.

“For me it was not a personal battle but for the autonomy of the sports body. I respect Supreme Court like any citizen should,” said the ousted BCCI president.

The sports administrator, who faced the wrath of the apex court for not implementing the Lodha Panel recommendations, said BCCI is the best managed sports body in the country.

“BCCI is the best managed sports organisation in the country and India has the best cricket infrastructure in the world,” added Thakur.

Thakur might be ousted from power but he welcomed SC’s decision.

“If SC feels BCCI would do better under retired judges then I wish them all the best, I am sure they will do well.

"My commitment to the best of Indian cricket and autonomy of sports will always remain," he said.

The Supreme Court on Monday removed Thakur from the post of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president and sought a reply from him regarding perjury charges levelled against him by Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam.

The apex court also ousted BCCI honorary secretary Ajay Shirke, observing that the two officials had not been complied with its July 18, 2016 order wherein the court has given six months to BCCI to implement Lodha committee reforms.

The top court further observed that the BCCI and state board officials have failed to implement its orders to bring transparency and accountability in the cricket body.

On December 15, the top court had observed the Thakur prima facie appears to have committed matter of perjury in relation to demanding an intervention via a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order to sidestep the implementation of the Lodha Committee recommendations.

The apex court, which was hearing the Lodha panel's third status report that asked for the removal of top brass of the BCCI, also asked the Amicus Curiae whether Thakur had committed perjury or not in the case.

In reply, the Amicus Curiae revealed that the BCCI chief, in his affidavit submitted to the top court, had said that he sought Shashank Manohar's opinion as the BCCI chairman, which was denied by the latter, saying that it was asked in the ICC meeting.

It should be noted that if Thakur is found to have committed perjury, then he might land in jail.

The three-member apex court-bench, headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, also asked the country's cricket board to suggest if there is any name for post of administrator and also granted them a week's time for the same.

Meanwhile, the top court also reserved its order on replacing BCCI top brass with a panel of administrators.

On October 1, the board had accepted many of the "significant recommendations" of the Lodha Committee, but excluded the important ones which have been a bone of contention between the cricket body and the Lodha Panel.

The recommendations, which have still not been accepted by the 30-member committee, include one-state one-vote, age limit of 70 years, cooling-off period of three years which included the tenure of the administrators, continue with the five-selectors and retaining the powers of the president and secretary as per the earlier constitution of the board

Thakur, who was a former BCCI secretary, was on May 22, 2016, unanimously elected as the BCCI president at the board's special general meeting and Shirke took over as BCCI secretary.