NEW DELHI: Cracking the whip on a defiant BCCI, the Indian cricket board, the Supreme Court on Monday removed its president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke, saying they should "forthwith cease and desist from" the board's work.

The move puts question marks on several issues related to Indian cricket in particular, including IPL’s 207 version, telecast rights and the investments that companies like Star India and Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI) have made in Indian cricket.

According to a PTI report, the apex court also decided to initiate contempt proceedings against Thakur by seeking his response as to why he should not be held liable for obstructing the implementation of the court's directions aimed at reforming BCCI.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice T S Thakur said that working of BCCI will be looked after by a committee of administrators and requested senior advocate Fali S Nariman and senior advocate Gopal Subramanian, who was assisting in the matter as amicus curaie, to assist the court in nominating persons of impeccable integrity as the members in the committee of administrators.

While stakeholders are evaluating the effect can have on their investments in Indian cricket, Justice Lodha, who headed the SC-mandated panel suggesting sweeping reforms in BCCI and Indian cricket, termed the apex court’s latest directive as a victory for the sports.

Keep tuned in for updates on this soap opera.

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