India Test threat lifted after funds released

AFP, NEW DELHI: India's cash-rich cricket board Tuesday lifted a threat to cancel the start of its Test series against England after judges eased banking restrictions which had triggered a funding crisis.
Less than 24 hours before the high-profile series was due to begin in Rajkot, the cash-rich board dropped a bombshell by telling the Supreme Court it would not be able to cover the running costs of the first match.
The Supreme Court last month ruled that the board would have to seek prior approval from a special panel investigating its governance in order to release funds to state associations which host Test matches.
In a petition filed on Tuesday to the court, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that "unless money is disbursed to the board, the match between India and England can't take place".
After considering the petition for several hours, the court set aside its previous order and gave the board immediate access to the $90,000 (5.8 million rupees) the BCCI said it needed to host the match in Rajkot.
It further allowed the board to incur expenses for hosting the remaining four Tests in the series against England but asked it to maintain accounts for scrutiny by the panel.
"We are fine with the supreme court order because we wanted money for organising the India-England Test series and that has been allowed," a lawyer representing the board told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The court had slapped the restrictions on the BCCI's accounts after the board, which is one of the world's wealthiest sports bodies, failed to implement a series of reforms recommended by a panel headed by a former top judge, Rajendra Mal Lodha.
The Lodha panel has accused BCCI officials of "behaving like lords" after they repeatedly ignored the deadlines to implement reforms of what is world cricket's wealthiest and most powerful board.

 

India Test threat lifted after funds released

AFP, NEW DELHI: Indias cash-rich cricket board Tuesday lifted a threat to cancel the start of its Test series against England after judges eased banking restrictions which had triggered a funding crisis. Less than 24 hours before the high-profile series was due to begin in Rajkot, the cash-rich board dropped a bombshell by telling the Supreme Court it would not be able to cover the running costs of the first match. The Supreme Court last month ruled that the board would have to seek prior approval from a special panel investigating its governance in order to release funds to state associations which host Test matches. In a petition filed on Tuesday to the court, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said that unless money is disbursed to the board, the match between India and England cant take place. After considering the petition for several hours, the court set aside its previous order and gave the board immediate access to the $90,000 (5.8 million rupees) the BCCI said it needed to host the match in Rajkot. It further allowed the board to incur expenses for hosting the remaining four Tests in the series against England but asked it to maintain accounts for scrutiny by the panel. We are fine with the supreme court order because we wanted money for organising the India-England Test series and that has been allowed, a lawyer representing the board told AFP on condition of anonymity. The court had slapped the restrictions on the BCCIs accounts after the board, which is one of the worlds wealthiest sports bodies, failed to implement a series of reforms recommended by a panel headed by a former top judge, Rajendra Mal Lodha. The Lodha panel has accused BCCI officials of behaving like lords after they repeatedly ignored the deadlines to implement reforms of what is world crickets wealthiest and most powerful board.