Angry BCCI to cancel ongoing India-New Zealand series, amid fight with Lodha Committee

New Delhi : A day after India celebrated the Indian cricket team’s rise to the top spot in Test, there is some disappointing news for cricket fans across the country. India and New Zealand series might be cancelled amidst the ongoing war between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Lodha Committee. This comes after the Loadha Panel, backed by the Supreme Court, froze the accounts of the apex cricket body of India. The Panel directed the banks which hold BCCI accounts, not to disburse any funds for the decisions taken by the Board, during its meeting that took place on September 30. The move was an indication of the fuming Lodha Panel, which is upset by the Board’s refusal to follow through with its recommendations.
Speaking to the Indian Express, a senior Board official said, “We have no option other than to call off the India-New Zealand series as our banks have decided to freeze BCCI accounts. We don’t want India to be humiliated in front of the world. How can we function, how can we hold any games now? Who will make the payment? Freezing a bank account is no joke. An international team is here, and there is so much at stake.” The Panel had issued a letter to the respective banks, directing them to freeze the Board’s funds. The letter stated, “It has come to the notice of this Committee that certain decisions have been taken at the ‘Emergent Working Committee’ meeting of the BCCI on 30th September 2016 to disburse large funds to the various member associations.”