Lodha Panel directs bank to unfreeze BCCI accounts, test series to go on

"Cricket must go on," NDTV reported retired Chief Justice of India RM Lodha as saying.

Justice Lodha heads the committee appointed by the Supreme Court to recommend reforms in the running of the Board.

NDTV says the  Lodha Committee has directed Yes Bank to unfreeze BCCI's account while the committee will also be writing to Bank of Maharashtra to unfreeze the Board's account.

The series has a Test match and five ODIs remaining.

The BCCI on Monday had said that  it is contemplating calling off the series against New Zealand after its accounts were frozen following a directive from the Lodha Committee.

The Supreme Court appointed Lodha Panel had said that the BCCI was not maintaining the recommendations and were disbursing large funds to state associations, something which went against the panel's decision.

Alleging interference from the panel's part, a BCCI source was quoted by NDTV as saying, "There is lot of interference from Lodha Committee. Lodha Committee is not mandated to interfere in everyday activities. Players need to be paid. If they are happy to play the third Test without being paid, then fine."

BCCI chief Anurag Thakur also alerted the fans that they might have to pull out of the Champions Trophy, scheduled for next year, if all recommendations are followed.

Meanwhile, the Lodha panel has also sought the removal of BCCI top brass including the President and Secretary, in their report to the Apex court.

image: bcci.tv