The Supreme Court, on Monday, in a landmark judgement, removed Anurag Thakur from the post of BCCI president, and Ajay Shirke as secretary to failing to follow the guidelines laid down by the court to reform BCCI as per recommendations of the Lodha panel.
Responding to the decision, Thakur posted a one-minute video on Twitter, explaining his stand. "For me it was not a personal battle, it was a battle for the autonomy of the sports body. I respect the Supreme Court as any citizen should,” Thakur said in a video on Twitter.
He, however, went on to take a dig at the SC stating, “If the honourable Supreme Court feels that BCCI could do better under retired judges, I wish them all the best. I’m sure Indian cricket will do well under their guidance.”
"My commitment for the best of Indian cricket and autonomy of Indian sports will always remain,” Thakur’s statement concluded.
Watch Anurag Thakur’s video
My statement on the Supreme Court @BCCI verdict. pic.twitter.com/cXvEx6eIU4
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 2, 2017
Read full statement
My statement on the Supreme Court @BCCI verdict today. pic.twitter.com/4zZf44hTgf
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 2, 2017
Shirke reacts
On being asked for his comments on being sacked as secretary by the Supreme Court, Shirke told PTI, “I have no reaction to that. If that is the Supreme Court order, I cease to be secretary. It cannot get any simpler than that. My role in BCCI is over. At the end of the day, the BCCI comprises of members. It is not about me or the president. It is about the members.
“I have no reason to go into history. History can be judged by people differently. I have no personal attachment to the post. In the past also I have resigned and I have lots of other things to do. I came back to the Board as there was a vacancy and I was elected unopposed. Now it has come to this (the Supreme Court). I am completely fine with it and I have no regrets,” Shirke told PTI from the UK.
Justice R M Lodha, who headed the SC panel, and suggested reforms in the BCCI, reacted saying that the reforms had to be implemented. “This is logical consequence because once the reforms were accepted by the Supreme Court, they had to be implemented. There were obstructions and obviously this had to happen and it has happened,” Lodha told PTI.
“One should understand that once the order of the Supreme Court has come, it has to be obeyed. It is law of the land. It is victory for cricket. The game,” he further told PTI.
--By A Cricket Correspondent
