Just Lodha's 'too much' interference would kill cricket: Digvijaya Singh

With Justice R.M. Lodha asking the BCCI banks to restrain the disbursement of large amount of funds to the state associations, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday accused him of 'witch hunting' and said that the panel's 'too much' interference would kill cricket in India.

Singh took to his official Twitter account to express his views.

"Why should you object to BCCI giving funds to State Boards which are the Nurseries of Cricket? No doubt BCCI functioning needed to be looked into but with due respect to Justice Lodha his too much interference would kill Cricket. Witch hunting Justice Lodha would kill the game and bring disrepute the Country," Singh tweeted.

 

He, however, said that the BCCI functioning needs to be looked into.

"BCCI has not only given funds to Cricket but other games also. So just relax Your Lordship and enjoy the Test Series and coming IP," he tweeted.

BCCI president Anurag Thakur also expressed his apprehension whether India would be able to play the prestigious Champions Trophy next year.

He said the BCCI is opposed to Justice Lodha Committee's recommendation that a 15-day window should be given to players between India's international calendar and the cash-rich Indian Premier League in order to avoid player burnout.

The BCCI has maintained that the proposed reform would result in huge financial losses to the board and could push India into having to choose between playing the Champions Trophy or the IPL, which will conclude in the last week of May before the prestigious international tournament will begin on June 1 in England. In its October 1 Special General Meeting, the BCCI had accepted many of the "significant recommendations" of the Lodha Committee, however, it excluded the important ones which have been bone of contention between the cricket body and the Lodha Panel.

The recommendations, which have still not been accepted by the 30-member committee, ---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 keeping to retaining the powers of the president and secretary as per the earlier constitution of the board are the other recommendations.