BCCI president in-exile N Srinivasan didn’t pursue the matter involving Ravindra Jadeja and James Anderson with full force fearing loss of support from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), alleged Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma on Saturday.
India became a ‘laughing stock’ after Judicial Commissioner Gordon lewis pronounced Anderson ‘not guilty’ of pushing Jadeja. BCCI was again left embarrassed after ICC rejected its review plea in the case.
“With N Srinivasan playing puppet, the Jadeja-Anderson issue was mishandled by BCCI and India came a cropper and proved a laughing stock in the world. This is because of Srinivasan and his cronies at the BCCI,” Verma told reporters at a media conference here.
“We wonder why Srinivasan acted in such a timid manner. Was he worried that England and Australia associations will be offended because he became ICC chairman by their helpIJ He not only diluted but covered up the whole issue. He allowed England board and ICC to almost highjack the matter and settle it in their favour.
“While Anderson, as per reports, himself admitted of his misconduct, the ICC allowed him to go scot free. And it all happened with Srinivasan at the helm of affairs. Under the circumstances, would we believe that there was some understanding between him and the ECB so the Anderson was not punished,” he added.
“Skipper (MS) Dhoni was justified in his decision to go ahead and support Jadeja but he didn’t get enough support (from the BCCI). It has shamed our cricketers who represent our country,” he further added.
Verma, who is involved in legal wrangling with the Tamil Nadu strongman, also raised doubts over IPl COO Sunder Raman representing BCCI on the Jadeja-Anderson issue.
Srinivasan had said on Friday that ICC was “not considering” a complete overhaul in the ‘Code of Conduct’ for players. Verma said, “The latest uttering of Srinivasan that the ICC Code of Conduct need no overhauling is definitely against the interest of Indian cricket.”