With SC set to deliver its final verdict on Lodha Committee recommendations, will the wrongdoers in the world’s richest cricket body BCCI be punished?

Aditya Prakash Verma, secretary of the unrecognised Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), and the whistleblower whose legal battle against former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N Srinivasan ultimately compelled the latter to step down, is waiting for the Supreme Court verdict to be announced on Thursday.

Will the apex court deliver its final verdict, which is expected to be a landmark one in Indian cricket on 30 June? Will his dream finally come true with the verdict of making cricket a gentleman’s game again? Will the wrongdoers in the world’s richest cricket body, BCCI, be punished?

All these questions are making Verma impatient, as he awaits to see the implementation of the recommendations of the committee headed by Justice RM Lodha, both in letter and in spirit – which can only be possible through a SC order.

Originally from Chapra district of Bihar, Verma inherited his passion for cricket from his father, who was a businessman and an avid cricket lover. He represented his college and was the only player from his district to have represented Bihar University at the all-India universities meet. To promote cricket, he organised several tournaments in Chapra and later, moved to Jamshedpur to work and play for the Tatas.

This crusader’s journey to get recognition for his state began in 2006, when he used to frequently visit Mumbai and meet BCCI officials, often to be shooed away.

Verma, who is in the national capital to attend his SC case on Thursday, which he considers as the last over of the match, speaks at length with Debobrat Ghose of Firstpost in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

FP: What is the purpose of your Delhi visit?

AV: As a petitioner, I’m here as the Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict on 30 June. It’s the last over of the match, and I can’t predict anything, but only hope to get justice.

FP: What is your case all about?

AV: First, it is to attain recognition of the CAB by the BCCI, which the latter has been depriving the children of Bihar for a long period of time. Even, after three new states were carved out of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; Jharkhad got BCCI recognition in the name of Bihar, but the parent state was ignored.

Second, after N Srinivasan stepped down and his son-in-law was jailed, the former BCCI chief set up a committee illegally. I moved the SC against the Bombay High Court order and filed a petition for the setting up of an SIT to probe irregularities. Justice Mukul Mudgal ordered for an SIT and later, the SC ordered setting up of Justice Lodha Committee. Now, it’s related to the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee.

FP: What changes can be expected in Indian cricket and in BCCI, if the SC orders for 100 percent implementation of the Justice Lodha Committee’s recommendations?

AV: It’ll bring transparency, accountability and fairness in the functioning of BCCI. It’ll open up opportunities for the children, even from slums, who have been deprived from playing cricket, as BCCI didn’t give recognition to many states, including Bihar – which has a rich cricketing history.

FP: Has there been any improvement in the functioning of the BCCI since Justice Lodha made his report public in January 2016?

AV: No. BCCI has not turned their wrongs into rights. Rather, there have been more irregularities and corruption in the sports body. The board announced this year’s calendar and again 10 states, including Bihar and six North East states have been left out.

Take the case of Goa cricket association, where the three top officials including its president and secretary are in jail for alleged financial irregularities. Why no action was taken against the then Lalu Prasad-promoted CAB, against whom the BCCI had alleged of irregularities in the Rs 50 lakh grant case? Instead, at a working committee meeting, the same BCCI dmitted an official of the CAB, Mrityunjoy Tiwari, a Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson, as an associate member of the world’s richest cricket board.

FP: Why, so?

AV: It’s all a game of money. The BCCI gives Rs 35 crore to the states which enjoy the board’s full membership. By not recognising the cricket association’s of the states in question, they save money, which in turn is siphoned-off for other purposes.

Despite Justice Lodha’s recommendation to grant full membership to these states, so that they can participate in first-class matches, BCCI didn’t do anything. The board turned a deaf ear to the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. Only 20 states have been recognised so far. It’s the fundamental right of every child in this country to play the game for India, but it’s not happening. This is very unfortunate.

Moreover, Shashank Manohar, who had promised to clean up the BCCI as its president, left mid-term for the lucrative post at ICC. He virtually ditched the people who had a lot of hope pinned on him.

FP: Has there been any improvement in the selection process of players in the Under-16/19/23 categories, and first-class cricket?

AV: No. The scenario continues to be as bad as it was in the past, and it’ll continue to be so, unless the committee’s recommendations are implemented, both in letter and spirit.

FP: After former BCCI chief R Srinivasan, you have now taken on the new chief Anurag Thakur by moving the apex court. Why?

AV: I don’t have any enmity with anyone at personal level. It’s a battle of principle and for the betterment of BCCI. According to Justice Lodha’s report, no person with any charges against him can hold a post in the board. Anurag Thakur has been charge-sheeted in three cases in Himachal Pradesh and despite that, he has been appointed as BCCI president. What’s the difference then between Srinivasan and Thakur?

FP: Have you ever received any threats, as you took on such Goliaths by their horns?

AV: Yes, during the initial phase of my fight against the Board and the system, not only I, but even my wife and son received threats. But, I continued and will do so till justice is delivered, and thousands of children from Bihar and other deprived states get recognition.

FP: Why did former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was also a cabinet colleague of former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar at the Centre, fail to get CAB recognised?

AV: It was due his vested interests. It’s a well-known fact how he pushed for his son Tejashwi Yadav to be in the Indian cricket squad for the ICC U19 World Cup 2008 in Kuala Lumpur. Eventually, he didn’t get to play and India went on to win the cup under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. This is why Lalu Prasad compromised, without caring for thousands of young talents of Bihar.

FP: Is there any guarantee that Indian cricket will once again be a ‘gentleman’s game’, as you hope, if Justice Lodha’s recommendations are implemented?

AV: I’ll say it’s not a 100 percent but 1000 percent guarantee that if the SC verdict allows full implementation of Justice Lodha’s recommendations, then cricket in India will get back to being a gentleman’s game. And, if BCCI fails to implement the SC’s orders, its officials would be jailed.

FP: Despite the situation in the BCCI, who do you consider as the best administrator?

AV: Undoubtedly, Sharad Pawar. He did a lot, not only for the game, but also for the people associated with the game. It was only during his era that Indian cricket won several laurels.

FP: Do you have any appeal to make to the government on this issue?

AV: My appeal is to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, who through his radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ has touched the hearts of millions. The world has also recognized his strong leadership quality and charm. My request to him is that he should see that the children from the deprived states should get to play cricket, and that these states get BCCI recognition.