BackBCCI throws its weight behind Srinivasan, Raman
The decision to back Raman was taken at an Emergent Working Committee in Chennai
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New Delhi/Chennai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday decided to support Sundar Raman, the chief operating officer of the Indian Premier League (IPL), who was indicted in a report submitted by the Mudgal committee to the Supreme Court.
The decision to back Raman was taken at an Emergent Working Committee in Chennai. Raman, also a BCCI employee, was indicted for being in touch with a bookie and knowing (and not doing anything) about malpractices in the controversial Twenty20 league.
In its statement, the BCCI added, “Sundar Raman gave his explanation relating to his role with reference to the conclusion relating to him in the report of the Mudgal committee. The members heard his explanation and decided that the Board should support Mr. Sundar Raman to represent himself before the Supreme Court."
Dismissing Raman’s indictment as a “non-issue", BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said after the meeting, “Like everyone is given an opportunity to express himself, we have decided that he should be allowed to present himself in the Supreme Court. Whatever they say, ultimately we will take a decision on that."
The board also gave a clean chit to its in-limbo president N. Srinivasan after he was cleared on two counts by the Mudgal Committee, including match-fixing. The statement said, “The members noted the conclusions in the final report of the Mudgal committee and felt that there is no taint on the conduct of Mr. Srinivasan."
The Mudgal committee said Srinivasan was not guilty of match fixing although it said his son-in-law was involved in betting. It also pulled up Srinivasan for not taking action against a player (who was not named) despite knowing about his misdemeanours.
Terming the allegations “by unscrupulous elements" against Srinivasan “baseless", the Board added that, the charges were “aimed at destabilising the working of the BCCI." Srinivasan is also the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Srinivasan, is also the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements Ltd, the company that owns the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise. Patel said, “Mr N. Srinivasan is not a tainted person. Whatever activity has been done by the guilty persons is their matter."
His son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan has been heavily indicted by the Mudgal committee on charges of alleged betting and allegedly passing insider information. Despite being referred to as a “mere cricket enthusiast", the Mudgal committee also confirmed his status as a team official. Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra has also been indicted on charges of betting by the Mudgal committee.
Unlike its unabashed support for Raman, the BCCI, however refused to back Meiyappan or Kundra in their legal battles. “Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan will have to fight their own cases in court," said Patel.
The board also announced that it would hold its much-delayed annual general meeting (AGM) on 17 December in Chennai. However, last Friday, the BCCI told the court that it would postpone its AGM by four weeks. Interestingly, it is for the first time that the BCCI is holding its AGM around that date. Article 16 (i) of the BCCI’s constitution clearly states that the AGM has to be held on or before September 30.
The Supreme Court will next hear the case on 24 November. If it accepts the committee’s clean chit to Srinivasan, it could pave the way for the ICC chairman’s re-election to the top post in Indian cricket administration.
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