BCCI chief N Srinivasan stands completely isolated at the top of the cricketing body as demands for his resignation poured in from all quarters throughout Wednesday. So far, Srinivasan has refused to quit, but it may now be the endgame for him as BCCI heavyweights have joined hands against him.
The Sports Ministry, which always rue the fact that it has no control over the BCCI, has pounced on this opportunity to suggest that Srinivasan must quit in the wake of the apparent conflict of interest as BCCI head and ongoing probe against his son-in-law in IPl fixing scandal.
“BCCI is inquiring into allegations of match and spot fixing. As there is a conflict of interest in this inquiry, therefore the BCCI president should tender his resignation on moral grounds, pending the outcome of the inquiry,” reads a release from the Ministry. Observing the unfolding events “with considerable disquiet”, the Ministry reiterated its commitment towards a strong anti-corruption law for sports.
Similarly, IPl commissioner Rajeev Shukla said on Wednesday that Srinivasan should “dissociate himself from the procedure” till inquiry into fixing scandal was over. Though BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley did not speak for himself, Shukla claimed the BJP leader, who also heads the DDCA, was of the same view.
“Till the pendency of inquiry, he should disassociate himself from the procedure. ‘Disassociate’, what it means is very clear. He will have to take a decision now. Jaitley and I had suggested him,” Shukla said.
He even claimed that he was not keen to take up the post of IPl commissioner again for third term. "The IPl chief is a one-year post which gets renewed every year in the AGM but I don’t intend to do the job for a third year,” Shukla told PTI in an interview here.
BCCI has set up a three-member BCCI inquiry committee, including two judges, to probe the fixing scandal involving three Rajasthan Royals players and Gurunath Meiyappan, of Chennai Super Kings. Shukla has suggested that recommendations of this committee be binding on the BCCI.
But, Srinivasan’s trouble did not end at these two politician-cum-sports administrators. BCCI treasurer Ajay Shirke also hinted that Srinivasan continuation as BCCI chief could raise question about credibility of the Board.
“I am a very junior member of the Board. Srinivasan is higher in stature and age. I do not think I need to advise him. The question is about the credibility of the Board. We have to instil the confidence of people in the Board. Here the decision is a moral one and that is a very individual decision,” he said here.
Former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar went on to suggest that Home Ministry should order probe into all IPl matches this year. The NCP chief stopped short of asking BCCI chief’s resignation, but claimed cricket lovers were hurt with the prevalent situation.
Srinivasan found baiters in Hyderabad Cricket Association President G Vinod and DDCA vice-president Chetan Chouhan, who demanded his ouster. “When you take the public mandate it very clearly shows that he needs to step down. It is important that he puts his conscience in the right place. As far his resignation is concerned there is bound to be some kind of discussion,” Vinod said. Incidentally, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Associaion chief and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had on Tuesday asked Srinivasan to quit.
But, Srinivasan is clearly defiant and is taking refuge in the fact that what Shukla told reporters was just confirmation of what he had suggested on Sunday. Apparently, both Shukla and Jaitley had gently told Srinivasan to step down on grounds of propriety during their meeting in Kolkata on Sunday but he steadfastly refused to do so.
“I have seen Shukla’s interview. What he says is that this commission has been appointed and I should disassociate myself from the procedure as stated in Kolkata when I did the Press Conference. I had said in Kolkata that I will have nothing to do with the commission -- its appointment, its terms of reference and its decision. What Shukla has done, he has reiterated this only. So there is nothing else,” said Srinivasan.