BCCI not dilly-dallying on Lodha panel verdict: Rajeev Shukla

BCCI yesterday sought to dispel the notion that it was dilly-dallying in implementing the Justice Lodha Committee verdict, saying that such a perception was 'wrong' as the Board has already accepted the order

New Delhi: The BCCI yesterday sought to dispel the notion that it was dilly-dallying in implementing the Justice RM Lodha Committee verdict, saying that such a perception was "wrong" as the Board has already accepted the order in totality.


IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla (right) with BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur ahead of the IPL Governing Council meeting in Mumbai on Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble 

The BCCI said that forming a working group comprising Sourav Ganguly, Rajeev Shukla, Anurag Thakur and Anirudh Chaudhry was aimed at finding the procedures to implement the order and should not be seen as a delaying tactic.

"I want to make it very clear that the BCCI has already accepted the Justice Lodha committee verdict in toto. The working group has been formed to draw up the future roadmap of IPL-9. There is no question of any dilly-dallying," IPL Chairman Shukla told PTI.

"The order is accepted, now we are in the process of implementing it. For that we have formed a working group and that group has been given six weeks' time to submit its recommendations," he said.

Shukla said the BCCI was not shirking from its responsibility and promised to deliver a "very successful" IPL-9 next year. "IPL will be held with a minimum of eight teams. There will be no change in that," he said.

Shukla said that the BCCI was aware that these issues have legal ramifications and would not like to invite any problem by taking a wrong decision.

"The procedures that we adopt will therefore be approved by our legal experts, that is why we need some time to give the recommendations," he said. Shukla said the preparation for IPL-9 will start only after all these issues are resolved.

'IPL image not dented'
Asked whether the Lodha Committee's order has dented the image of the IPL further, Shukla said people have faith in the product. "I don't think IPL's image has been dented.

IPL-8 was one of the biggest success in the country and overseas. People have faith in IPL. The value has to be further enhanced and I am confident that we will be able to deliver a better edition next year," he said.

Asked about his inclusion in the working group, former India skipper Ganguly said, "I came to know about my inclusion in the panel today. I don't know my role and whether six weeks is good enough time to do this job or not.

"I would be in a position to comment only when we start working. I would like to find out from other members how to go about it."

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