In what sounds like a political solution to the mess in the cricketing body, world's strongest cricket administrator and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) president N Srinivasan on Sunday told the media that a committee would be set up to study the current turmoil in Indian cricket. At a Press conference in Kolkata, Srinivasan reiterated that he would not quit as BCCI president. "I have done no wrong," he said.
Refuting speculation that some Board members were seeking his resignation, Srinivasan said that it was a rumour created by the media and some forces outside the BCCI. "There is complete unity (in the Board). I have not been asked by anybody to resign. My support is complete. I intend to continue my role as BCCI president," he said.
He, however, did not explain what position his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, holds at Chennai Super Kings; instead he said that the commission would probe how Gurunath travelled with the team or could be seen in the dug-out of the Chennai Super Kings. The Board has suspended Meiyappan from all activities related to Indian cricket.
"What is his (Gurunath's) role; whether he transcended any rules is what the commission will look into. I have nothing to say, I am not going to sit and explore what his role was or was not. let the commission go into it. It will give the report to the Board as a whole,” the BCCI chief said.
I will play no role. Everything will be done swiftly. I have distanced myself. I will not be part of the committee or its discussions," said the BCCI chief.The three-member commission will comprise two members of the IPl operation committee and an independent person in whose appointment Srinivasan will have no say. The five members of IPl operation committee are: Arun Jaitley, Rajeev Shukla, Sanjay Jagdale, Ajay Shirke and Ravi Shastri.
In the meanwhile, a Mumbai Police team on Sunday raided the house of Gurunath Meiyappan in Chennai. During the searches, which lasted for more than eight hours, the Mumbai police accompanied by their Tamil Nadu counterparts, have recovered "some documents", sources said.
Srinivasan said that the BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit report on spot-fixing by Rajasthan Royals players S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila will be submitted on time, all assistance would be given to the police. "The management of Rajasthan Royals will be subject to the same inquiry procedure. I am not part of this commission and I will not play any role in its appointment, deliberations or decision. The BCCI will act firmly and strictly if the allegations are proven. The principles of natural justice are that every person has the right to hearing and to be considered innocent until proven guilty," Srinivasan said.
Mumbai police on Sunday 'confronted' CSK team owner Gurunath Meiyappan with actor Vindoo Dara Singh during questioning about IPl spot-fixing and betting. Police also collected Gurunath's voice sample for verification of telephonic conversations he had allegedly had with Vindoo, recorded by investigators.