The Indian Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee on Monday recommended "sweeping reforms" for the "controversy-ridden" Board of Control for Cricket in India, suggesting "a bar on ministers from occupying positions, putting a cap on the age and tenure of the office-bearers and legalising betting," according to Dhananjay Mahapatra of the TIMES OF INDIA. In "a series of drastic reforms, the three-member panel, headed by Justice R.M. Lodha, also suggested one unit should represent one state, while taking away the voting rights of institutional and city-based units." The committee "also suggested the restructuring of the BCCI's administrative set-up, proposing the position of a CEO accountable to a nine-member apex council." Among the "most sensational" recommendation by Lodha panel "was the suggestion to legalize betting." The panel felt that the move "would help curb the corruption in the game and recommended that except for players and officials, people should be allowed to place bets on registered sites." The panel said that "to ensure transparency in the BCCI's functioning, it is important to bring the body under the purview of the Rights to Information Act, something that the Board has vehemently opposed in the past citing its autonomy." Putting a cap on the age and tenure of the BCCI office-bearers, the committee said that "the Board members should not hold for more than three terms." Justice Lodha said that "the President can have only two terms of three years each but other office bearers can have three terms." There "will be a compulsory cooling off period after each term for all office-bearers." The panel said that "there should also be a players' association to ensure that cricketers have a say in the Board's functioning." Lodha said that the players' association "will be informed by a steering committee, headed by former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, and comprising former captains Mohinder Amarnath and Anil Kumble along with women's legend Diana Edulji." On to the Indian Premier League, which has been battling a credibility crisis ever since the '13 spot-fixing scandal, the Panel "recommended a revamp of its Governing Council" (TIMES OF INDIA, 7/19).
