BCCI did not consult Markandey Katju before SGM

Mumbai: Former Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju, who first completed the initial report for the Indian cricket board on Lodha panel recommendations, was not consulted before the crucial Special General Meeting (SGM), which was held in Mumbai on Saturday. 

The 70-year-old Katju, in his initial report had suggested that the Lodha Reforms are illegal and unconstitutional. Perhaps, Katju's criticism didn't go well with the Supreme Court and that may be one of the reasons for BCCI not inviting him for the crucial meeting in Mumbai. 

"I am not in contact with the BCCI after the submission of my report. In fact, two days ago, I called up the secretary Ajay Shirke, who was preparing to come to Delhi (from Mumbai) and inquired whether my advice would be further needed, to which he promised to return my call once in Delhi but he didn't contact me thereafter," Katju said, speaking from Delhi.

A second report was promised earlier, but that may not be prepared now, due to the current situation.

"It is up to the BCCI. I don't want to speculate on this issue,” said Katju.

Tripura with BCCI

In the meantime, the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA), which has accepted the Lodha panel recommendations, promising to back the BCCI. 

Sourav Dasgupta, the secretary of the association, speaking exclusively from Agartala, after attending the meeting on Sunday, said, "we are with the BCCI in this difficult time, though we respect the chief justice’s verdict, and accepted the Lodha panel recommendations". 

The BCCI has defied the few important recommendations. Few members of the BCCI are likely to have "spoken" to the TCA secretary on going with the Lodha panel recommendations. 

"The discussions were held among us and it can not be discussed in public," he added. 

The Vidarbha Cricket Association was the other affiliated unit of the BCCI, which accepted the Lodha Reforms but nobody from Shashank Manohar's den was present at the SGM.