SC releases funds to BCCI for India-New Zealand test

The Supreme Court on Tuesday released Rs 58.66 lakh to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct the test match between India and New Zealand scheduled for Wednesday. The decision came after the BCCI counsel said the match might have to be cancelled if the court did not release funds.

However, disbursement of funds to state cricket associations remains frozen until the board and the cricket associations agree to implement the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. So, the funds released on Tuesday will be spent by the BCCI instead of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, which under normal circumstances would have managed the test match at Rajkot. 

The apex court has instructed the Lodha Committee to appoint supervisors to monitor BCCI’s functioning till it implements reforms. The SC bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur will hear the matter on December 3. 

On October 21, the court had curbed the financial powers of the BCCI for not complying with the Lodha panel recommendations. It ruled that all transactions between the BCCI and state cricket bodies be frozen until they implemented the panel’s recommendations. The bench also asked the Lodha panel to set a ceiling for contracts the BCCI could enter into, beyond which it would require the panel’s approval.