SC directive on BCCI fund freeze not to affect Rajkot Test: SCA

The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) today said the recent directive of the Supreme Court which put a freeze on funds from BCCI to the state associations won’t affect the conduct of next month’s first India-England Test to be played here.

The Supreme Court had placed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) virtually under the Justice RM Lodha committee, ordering scrutiny of the board’s income and expenditure by an independent auditor, and freezing funds to the state units as part of five additional directives to reform the game’s administration.

A three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur extended till December 3 the deadline for completing the reform recommendations. 

It had directed BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke to meet the committee before November 3 and file their compliance report by December 3. 

It rejected BCCI’s plea that the board would implement the reforms only after exhausting its legal options. “A party to litigation cannot be heard to say that it would treat a judgment of this court as not having binding effect unless the review or curative petitions it has filed are dismissed.” 

“The apex’s court direction to BCCI to restrict funds to its affiliated state associations will have no negative impact on the first India-England Test match,” SCA Honorary Secretary Niranjan Shah told.

“The Test match or any international event cannot be cancelled or postponed for want of funds,” Shah said.

This will be the maiden Test ever hosted by SCA. The first Test of the five-match rubber will begin at the SCA Stadium, in Khanderi on the outskirts of the city, from November 9.

“Generally BCCI’s affiliated associations do not depend on funds released from the board, they (associations) bear the expense and the reimbursement process is a day-to-day procedure,” Shah added.

Tightening its noose around the embattled BCCI, the Supreme Court on Friday choked funds to the state associations till its top boss Anurag Thakur and the units “undertake to implement” the Lodha committee recommendations on reforms.

Shah said the SCA is able to host the Test on its own financial strength.

“SCA would be able to bear the match expenses, even if we do not receive the funds,” Shah noted.