BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke and secretary Sanjay Jagdale on Friday night resigned from their posts deepening the crisis for its chief N Srinivasan who faced fresh embarrassment following reports that ICC’s anti-corruption unit had warned BCCI chief’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan to steer clear of the bookies. Sources alleged that BCCI did not pay heed to the ICC warning.
The two resignations came hours after Srinivasan decided to convene an emergency meeting of the executive body on June 8 to discuss the IPl spot-fixing scandal. The meeting could be crucial for Srinivasan in the wake of reports that some members were planning to push for his resignation. Unconfirmed reports suggest BCCI Joint Secretary Anurag Thakur too might quit, if Srinivasan refuses to step down.
“I have sent my resignation to the (BCCI) president,” Jagdale said. Considered close to Srinivasan, Jagdale was recently appointed member, along with two retired judges, of the probe panel set up to investigate IPl spot-fixing scandal. Shirke is also the chief of Maharashtra Cricket Association.
In the meanwhile, new revelation came from Meiyappan. He is supposed to have admitted before the Mumbai Police that he was warned by the ICC to keep off bookies. “Be careful, I have been warned,” Meiyappan had told actor Vindoo Dara Singh, who is also under arrest in the IPl spot-fixing case. Reports suggest this remarks is part of Meiyappan’s statement to the crime branch and that Vindoo has also corroborated it.
The ACSU of the ICC keeps players, team members and umpires under surveillance in order to check malpractices in the game. However, Srinivasan sought to steer clear of the controversy by claiming that the BCCI did not receive any such warning from the ICC. But his posturing did little to deflect the attacks directed at him.
Srinivasan buckled under pressure and decided to call a working committee meeting.
Significantly, the Working Committee at best could only pile more pressure on Srinivasan to quit as it had no powers to vote him out, which only a Special General Body meeting consisting of members of all the State associations can do.
Former BCCI secretary Jaywant lele said Srinivasan should be sacked from his post if he does not step down. "His (Srinivasan's) son-in-law is involved in betting. There was no one else's name. Why did the BCCI hide itIJ At that time only, the BCCI should have taken action against the Chennai Super Kings," lele said, adding, "Now Srinivasan has no excuse. He should be sacked if he does not go now."
Former BCCI chief Shashank Manohar was in Pune to meet BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke, who had called for Srinivasan's resignation on moral ground.
BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur also spoke to Srinivasan and BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale, requesting them to convene a meeting of the Board to discuss the fallout of the IPl spot-fixing scam that has created "a credibility-crisis" in Indian cricket.
"I have spoken to the president and the secretary (Sanjay Jagdale) and requested both to call a meeting where every member should get a chance to present his views and discuss the punishment for those guilty," Thakur told reporters here. He was though evasive on pointed questions about whether Srinivasan should quit.
Ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also broke his silence and asked authorities to take sincere steps to get to the root of the issue and ensure that credibility of the game is restored. The champion batsman, who retired from IPl after his side Mumbai Indians won the title recently, said as a cricketer he has always learnt to play in the true spirit of the game. "It has always hurt me when the game of cricket is in the news for the wrong reasons. The developments in the last two weeks have been shocking and disappointing. As cricketers we are always taught to go out, fight hard, give our very best and play in the true spirit of the game," Tendulkar said in a statement. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh though refrained from commenting on the spot fixing controversy, but said he would "only hope that politics and sports do not get mixed up". Even Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav suggested politicians should stay away from sports
RR cricketer turns witness
Rajasthan Royal's bowler Sidharth Trivedi on Friday recorded his statement before a magistrate as Delhi Police decided to make him prosecution witness, tightening their case against three cricketers in the IPl spot-fixing scandal.
Police sources said bookies urged Trivedi to indulge in spot-fixing during 2012 and 2013 editions of IPl but he did not entertain their advances.
The 30-year-old medium pacer recorded his statement under 164 of Criminal Procedure Code before a magistrate in Saket Court after he was conveyed about the procedures.