Chennai: Sensing an opportunity to oust N. Srinivasan’s juggernaut in the Indian cricket board, former BCCI presidents Shashank Manohar and Sharad Pawar seem to have formed a new axis. Reports suggest that Pawar, former president of the ICC, is keen on contesting in the forthcoming elections.
Soon after the Supreme Court disclosed that Srinivasan was one of the individuals probed by the Mudgal Committee in the spot-fixing scandal, Manohar — a known Pawar ally — questioned the Board’s decision to postpone the Annual General Body Meeting, scheduled for November 20, saying it was against the constitution of the cricket body.
Manohar said that the Board has no authority to postpone the AGM after a decision was taken by the Working Committee. “During the hearing before the Supreme Court today, the names of N Srinivasan, Sundaraman, Meiyappan and Raj Kundra are disclosed. This means that the said persons are prima facie indicted in the report,” Manohar said in a release.
“It appears that during the hearing, as soon as the names of Srinivasan and Meiyappan were disclosed, the Counsel for the Board made a request for the postponement of the AGM and elections scheduled to be held on 20th Nov. Once the date of the AGM was fixed by the Working Committee, the same could not and cannot be altered by any Office Bearer of the Board as they do not have authority to do so,” he added.
Manohar said that under the BCCI constitution, the decisions taken by the Working Committee or the General Body are final. “It is thus evident that the instructions given to the Board counsel are only with an intent to suit Mr Srinivasan as that would ensure that he still remains a back seat driver. The moot question that needs to be answered is — Who gave the Board counsel instructions to plead for postponement of the AGM,” he said.
“Under the Board Constitution, though it is mandatory to hold the AGM on or before 30th September, the Working Committee meeting which was attended by Mr Srinivasan fixed the date of the AGM as 20th of November probably hoping that the names of Mr N Srinivasan and Meiyappan would be cleared.”
Manohar wondered what would happen to the affairs of the Board if the investigation/hearing goes on for some time. “The second question that comes to mind is — if the investigation/hearing pulls on for several years, then will the Board keep functioning under the same set up?” he asked.
He charged Srinivasan of running the Board affairs from the backdoor. “Mr Srinivasan, the President of BCCI, has been prohibited from participating in the functioning of the Board since last several months. In spite of being prohibited, he continues to run the Board, which is amply evident from the Board functioning. For example, the allotment of International Matches to Centers by flouting the long practice of rotation adopted by the Board,” he said.
“The image of the Board is tarnished by the actions and the attitude of Mr Srinivasan. The gentleman’s game, as the game of cricket has long been known, and the reputation of the Board is at its lowest due to the egoistic and autocratic behaviour of one individual,” he added.
