Lodha Panel Recommends Legalization Of Betting , Wants Appointment Of CEO .

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Will Lodha panel recommendations pave the way for a clean cricket in the country . Image Source : twitter

New Delhi : Former Chief Justice of India, R.M. Lodha today submitted his report  to the Supreme Court on the various aspects of reforms in the BCCI . The cricketing fraternity have been waiting with baited breath for this report to be made public .

The panel after discussing with former cricketers Sachin Tendulkar , Sourav Ganguly , Anil Kumble , Bishan Singh Bedi and Mohinder Amarnath suggested measures to the BCCI  about the running of the game in the country so that transparency and accountability is maintained at all levels .

Top amongst the recommendations was the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to manage the day-to-day affairs of the BCCI. The CEO will be assisted by six professional managers.

The committee  recommended that BCCI office-bearers  cannot hold office for more than three terms  with a cooling –off  period  between each term .  But the most striking recommendations by the panel was that none of the office bearers can be a minister or a government servant . The officer bearers age cannot be over 70 years , must not be insolvent

and must not be a minister or a government servant . He  cannot hold office in the BCCI for a cumulative period for nine years.

The three-member committee comprising Justice (Retd) Lodha, Justice (Retd) Ashok Bhan and Justice (Retd) RV Raveendran had earlier submitted their report to the Supreme Court. Lodha said the BCCI president Shashank Manohar has been very open to the recommendations.

The Lodha Committee also suggested betting to be legalized .

The committee recommended separate governing councils for the IPL and BCCI  besides making a host of other recommendations, which if implemented could pave the way for a cleaner game.

The panel also suggested a proper procedure to appoint player agents who will have to undergo written tests, their antecedents will be verified and the final approval for their appointments will come from the apex council.

Lodha also recommended the formation of a players’ association.

The committee further suggested the appointment of three  authorities with distinct roles – Ombudsman ,Ethics Officer and Electoral Officer .The Ethics Officer will decide on conflict of interest , while the Electoral Officer will overlook the election work .

The panel recommended a steering committee headed by former Home Secretary GK Pillai with Mohinder Amarnath , Diana Eduljee .

The report also suggested for one association for each state with a right to vote while recommending relegation of  Railways , Services and Universities which meant they will lose voting rights .

The panel also gave a clean chit to IPL COO Sunder Raman .