File picture of Rajeev Shukla
Rajeev Shukla on Saturday resigned as the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid the raging spot-fixing controversy that has rocked Indian cricket. His resignation piles up pressure on Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N Srinivasan to step down.
Mr Shukla took the decision to quit just a day before the emergency meeting of the BCCI's working committee in Chennai.
"I have decided to quit as IPL Chairman. It is a decision which I was pondering over for some time. I think it is time to step down," Mr Shukla told PTI.
He said that he also took into account the resignations of BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale and Treasurer Ajay Shirke before taking the decision to step down.
Mr Shukla's resignation just a day ahead of the emergency working committee meeting in Chennai is bound to put more pressure on under-fire Srinivasan to quit from the president's post.
"I was given the task of IPL Chairmanship which I tried to perform to the best of my abilities. The tournament was organised well despite all the controversies. The stadiums were jam-packed which proved that IPL was still popular," Mr Shukla said.
He said that he never yearned for any position and was only discharging the responsibilities given to him. "I have never hankered for any position in the BCCI. I will serve cricket in whatever role I am given," he said.
Just two days ago, Mr Shukla had reportedly expressed his unwillingness to continue as IPL Chairman at the end of his current term, which expires in September this year. He had taken over as the IPL Chairman in September 2011 and his term was renewed in 2012. Rules provide for the IPL Chairman to hold office for a year which can be renewed.