The much-awaited Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the BCCI, which had to be deferred multiple times because of the IPl spot-fixing case, will now be held on March 2, bringing an end to the uncertainty over its functioning. The decision was taken at the Board’s emergent Working Committee meeting where sidelined N Srinivasan also attended in his capacity as Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president.
The committee discussed the implications of the Supreme Court judgement and decided to act as per legal advice. It was also decided to increase the monthly gratis scheme for all former cricketers by 50 per cent subject to a maximum of Rs50,000 per month effective from Jan this year. “The Working Committee of the BCCI at its emergent meeting, held in Chennai today has decided to hold the Annual General Meeting of the BCCI on the 2nd of March 2015 at 9.30 AM in Chennai,” according to a BCCI statement issued after the meeting.
The meeting has been held in the wake of the Apex Court order on January 22, clearly stating that BCCI will have to hold its AGM-cum-elections within six weeks. BCCI’s president-in-exile Srinivasan has also been clearly told by the SC that he won’t be able to stand for presidential elections unless he completely dissociates himself from India Cements-owned CSK.
The meeting discussed the SC judgment in particular, which had questioned the autonomy of the board. Members expressed their objection to this because removal of autonomy would lead to complications including matters pertaining to the Reserve Bank of India when it comes to foreign exchange transactions of the Board.
It was also learnt that interim president Shivlal Yadav in all likelihood is the frontrunner to replace Srinivasan in the next AGM if the Tamil Nadu strongman decides not to contest. If there is no election, then Yadav may become head of BCCI unopposed. Srinivasan intimated the Board members about CSK being transferred to a new subsidiary. In a filing to the BSE, India Cements said it has completed the required documentation for transfer of CSK franchise to Chennai Super Kings Cricket limited.
legal action vs Verma
The BCCI working committee members were unanimous in their opinion that a legal recourse must be planned against unrecognised Cricket Association of Bihar secretary Aditya Verma for “spreading baseless rumours” against Srinivasan and Co. “One of the working committee members raised concerns about constant unsubstantiated claims made by one Aditya Verma and wanted working committee members to take due cognisance of the matter. The BCCI is planning extensive legal action against Verma, who has been constantly spreading canards about Srinivasan as well as raising claims of conflict of interest against Shivlal and Rajiv Shukla,” a senior BCCI member present at meeting said.
“In fact, don’t be surprised if multiple BCCI affiliated units file legal petitions against Verma, who is allegedly a front of Shashank Manohar, lalit Modi and A C Muthiah faction,” a source added. “Srini himself raised the issue of Shivlal’s alleged conflict of interest. He said ‘this man Verma said that Shivlal’s son (Arjun Yadav) works in my company. This is completely false. One ex-president went to Mudgal Commission and reported that IPl CEO Sundar Raman is my relative. I want to put it on record that Sundar is not my relative and he was recruited by lalit Modi. So a lot of allegations are flying thick and fast and BCCI needs to address it’,” the source said.