The Supreme Court pronounced its crucial order in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vs Lodha committee matter.. (Complete Lodha Panel recommendations)

BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke were removed from their posts. The Supreme Court will now appoint administrators. RM Lodha is in charge of ensuring the implementation of the reforms he had made.

Defiant heads of state associations who did not agree to implement the Lodha reforms would also be removed.

Gopal Subramanium and Fali Nariman will now suggest names for an interim Committee. India Today also learnt that the senior-most vice president will be president.

The Supreme Court also said BCCI office bearers over 70 years or whose office period has extended for over nine years or those who have a criminal conviction should be removed.

SOURAV GANGULY TO HEAD BCCI?

Meanwhile, BCCI officials were sure the game of cricket would go on. It also emerges that former India captain Sourav Ganguly seems to be the front-runner to replace Thakur as board president.

The board is now checking if TC Matthew (vice-president, West Zone) and Gautam Roy (vice-president, West Zone) qualify for the post. Dr. G Gangaraju (vice-president, South Zone), CK Khanna (vice-president, Central Zone) and ML Nehru (vice-president, North Zone) don't qualify because of the new criteria.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

For the time being, Amitabh Chaudhary of Jharkhand Cricket Association, currently BCCI Joint Secretary, will perform Shirke's role.

Meanwhile, state associations are worried about the forthcoming India-England ODI series in Pune on January 15. England are due to arrive shortly. Implementation of Lodha recommendations will throw many office bearers out at the state level.

However, India Today understands that BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and others in the board will ensure that cricket goes on uninterrupted.

The next hearing will take place in January 19 when names of the interim board will be decided.

MORE TROUBLE FOR ANURAG THAKUR?

The Supreme Court also issued a show cause notice to Thakur and Shirke, asking why they should not be tried for perjury and contempt of court.

Thakur faced charges of perjury and he could still go to jail if he doesn't apologise to the Supreme Court.

Thakur in an affidavit had told the Supreme Court that he did not request the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar to write to the court saying that the appointment of a member of the CAG amounts to 'government interference'. However, clarifying to the court, Amicus Curiae Gopal Subramaniam said Thakur did ask Manohar to write to the Supreme Court. Manohar had been asked to file his response in the Supreme Court to 'set the record straight'.

The three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur during the last hearing, had snubbed BCCI counsel Kapil Sibbal and warned that once the court passes order, Thakur 'will have to go to jail if he doesn't apologise'. The court had granted one week time to Thakur to file his affidavit and at the same time asked the BCCI to suggest names for an interim overseeing board to be set up to implement the Lodha panel reforms. (Lodha committee not giving us time for last two months: Anurag Thakur)

KEY PARTS OF THE SC ORDER

CRACKDOWN No. 1: BCCI PREZ, SECRETARY SACKED CRACKDOWN No. 2: 31 BCCI OFFICIALS DISQUALIFIED CRACKDOWN No.3: OFFICIALS OVER 70 YRS DISQUALIFIED CRACKDOWN No.4: IN OFFICE FOR 9 YRS, DISQUALIFIED CRACKDOWN No.5: TAINTED OFFICIALS REMOVED CRACKDOWN No.6: AXE ON STATE BOARDS

THE BACKGROUND

It all started when the spot-fixing scandal broke out during the Indian Premier League in 2013 leading to developments that forced the top court to intervene.

Subsequently, the Mudgal Committee was appointed by the Supreme Court, which submitted its report and pointed out irregularities pertaining to the IPL. To help things move further, the Supreme Court appointed a panel in January 2015 headed by former Chief Justice of India, RM Lodha. In July, the panel suspended IPL franchises Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years, while the teams' co-owners Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were banned for life from cricket.

Later, the Lodha panel suggested a set of comprehensive reforms for the BCCI to implement. A few of those recommendations were challenged by BCCI and then the apex court had a final word and set a deadline for the the board to implement the suggested reforms in its totality. BCCI setting dangerous precedent with its defiance of Supreme Court)

But, the BCCI continued to stand its ground. Meanwhile, the apex court also asked Thakur to file an affidavit to explain why he had asked the ICC to interfere in the proceedings and submit it to the court on October 17. SGM's were held and the BCCI decided to decline certain orders of the Lodha panel. (10 times Supreme Court showed BCCI who is boss)

After the continued defiance, the Lodha committee asked the Supreme Court to sack the 'top brass' of the BCCI and install former Home Secretary GK Pillai as an observer of the BCCI with power to appoint an auditor, and guide the BCCI administration, particularly on the award of contracts and on transparency. (Disqualify BCCI office-bearers, Lodha panel tells Supreme Court)

As the New Year kicks in, the BCCI vs Lodha stand-off may finally come to an end as the court is scheduled to give its final verdict today.