New Delhi/Chennai:
Deep divisions in the BCCI have come to the fore in the board's working committee meeting currently being held in Chennai, claim sources. BCCI president N Srinivasan has reportedly refused to resign leading to a showdown in the meeting with several members threatening to quit. He has agreed to step aside for an interim president to take over, which is unacceptable to majority of the BCCI members, say sources. They reportedly want him to resign. Former treasurer Ajay Shirke has sought Mr Srinivasan's resignation on moral grounds, the sources added.
Here are the 10 latest developments in the story:
Ahead of the meeting, negotiations were reportedly on to plan what is being called the "stepping aside" of BCCI president N Srinivasan while allegations of spot-fixing and betting in this year's edition of the Indian Premier League are investigated. Sources had told NDTV that the board is likely to accept Mr Srinivasan's demand that he will be replaced with an interim president and will be reinstated as BCCI chief once cleared by the investigation.
There are differences over Mr Srinivasan's other demands. He wants to stay on as India's representative in the International Cricket Council, but there is opposition to that.
Mr Srinivasan has also reportedly sought that Mr Jagdale and Mr Shirke should not return as office-bearers and should be replaced through fresh elections, but some board members are not agreeable to that.
Mr Jagdale has ruled out reconsidering his decision to quit and is not attending today's meeting. Mr Shirke will be there as a member of the board - he represents the Maharashtra Cricket Association.
Arun Jaitley who is a zonal vice-president and represents north zone on the board and Anurag Thakur, both BJP leaders, and Rajeev Shukla are attending the meeting through video-conference. (Full coverage)
Shashank Manohar, who was BCCI boss before Mr Srinivasan was elected, is reportedly the frontrunner to take charge should Mr Srinivasan quit. BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah is also a candidate, according to sources.
Those who have sought Mr Srinivasan's resignation say there is a conflict of interest in his being BCCI chief with his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan being arrested last month on charges of gambling, cheating, and conspiracy. Mr Meiyappan's alleged links with bookies are under investigation.
On Friday, sources in the Mumbai Police revealed information that made Mr Srinivasan's job of holding on to his post significantly tougher. They alleged that Mr Meiyappan was warned by the ICC about the "company" he was keeping as the IPL season began in April this year.
Mr Meiyappan's visiting card names him as the 'Team Principal' of the Chennai Super Kings, which made him a crucial member of the franchise's management. Mr Srinivasan has, since Mr Meiyappan's arrest, tried to distance his son-in-law from the franchise, which is owned by his company India Cements. He said Mr Meiyappan was seen with the team constantly only because he is a "cricket enthusiast. Mr Srinivasan has also said that if his son-in-law was placing bets, he was not aware of this.
The working committee that is meeting today does not have voting rights to remove Mr Srinivasan. For that to happen, a Special General Meeting of the full board will have to be convened, and three-fourths of the entire board of 30 will have to vote against him.
Post a comment