BCCI must find ways to appease an angry court

The tussle between the Supreme Court and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken an ugly turn. This is good neither for the country's premier cricketing body nor for the apex court. A way must be found to resolve the stand-off. The court is miffed that the BCCI has refused so far to implement the substantial recommendations of the Justice RM lodha panel, which it had mandated to suggest guidelines to revamp the Board's functioning. It is now additionally annoyed by the confrontationist position taken by former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju, hired by the BCC to recommend a course of action in the face of the court's directives. Instead of suggesting a middle way out, if there is still one in existence, Katju has in his report ridiculed the apex court for passing orders the Board needs to follow. He has in fact questioned the court's wisdom in giving instructions and arm-twisting the cricket organisation. Upset by the developments, Justice lodha now apparently wants BCCI's top functionaries to be sacked for their failure to honour the court's verdict. By asking the Board to “fall in line” by October 6 and stop “behaving like lords”, the Supreme Court has indicated clearly enough that it will not entertain any further feet-dragging by the Board. The BCCI must understand that, beyond a point, it cannot go on challenging the apex court. By adopting the posture it has, the Board is only strengthening criticism that it thinks it is a law unto itself. If there are genuine concerns in implementing some of the reforms the lodha panel has recommended and the court has endorsed, it should make them known to the Bench hearing the case. The least it can do is to continue its dialogue with the lodha committee to find a solution. Unfortunately, if reports are to be believed, the Board president refused to even acknowledge communication sent by the panel. At the end of the day, it's the court word that is final.

The Board must live up to the image it has been working hard at to craft: An organisation which welcomes constructive criticism and is willing to reform. When Shashank Manohar took over as Board chief from N Srinivasan, he had promised dramatic changes — and to his credit, some of those changes did begin to happen. However, along the way, the enthusiasm waned. After he moved over to the International Cricket Council as its head, new chief Anurag Thakur promised to continue the good work in consultation with his team. Sadly, the Board appears not to have had the time to pursue the reforms, caught as it in a futile war of words with the Supreme Court. There is no doubt that the BCCI is among the biggest profit-making and globally recognised sports bodies, demonstrating its ability and financial clout repeatedly in conducting tournaments professionally. But that doesn't mean it should not be open to reasonable scrutiny and be willing to change for the better.