The Supreme Court on Friday directed BCCI’s Committee of Administrators to release Rs 2.5 crore to Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for the fourth Test match after the state body had claimed paucity of funds as an impediment in conducting the high-profile game.

In a bid to prevent any form of sabotage ahead of the Test the COA in their second status report, filed on Wednesday in the Supreme Court, had listed the HPCA’s demand for more funds as part of a list of difficulties they were facing.

The COA had claimed that HPCA asked for the funds, despite having a sum in excess of Rs 65 crore in their bank account.

Incidentally ousted BCCI president Anurag Thakur was the HPCA boss when the above mentioned amount of fund was deposited in the state association’s coffers.

The SC also asked the BCCI to honour all contractual committments made to the state associations in the lead up to the India-Australia series. BCCI will have to pay Maharashtra, Karnataka and Jharkhand state associations for the previous three India-Australia Tests.

Meanwhile, the Court clarified that an officer bearer of the BCCI for nine years can still become part of the state cricket association. Also, if a person has been an office bearer in the state association for nine years he cannot be barred from becoming an office bearer of the BCCI.