Anurag Thakur hits back at Srinivasan, tells him to fix family first

On the eve of the Board’s working committee meeting in Kolkata two days ago, the ICC had advised Thakur to stay away from one Karan Gilhotra, who was allegedly an “unverified suspected bookie”.

On Monday, Thakur responded in a letter, questioning the timing of the ICC missive, calling it a “counter offensive” initiated at the behest of the ICC chairman, following Thakur’s election as BCCI secretary. “The BCCI has received intimation from the ICC ostensibly under your direction that I should keep away from one Mr Karan Gilhotra who is a ‘suspected bookie’.

“I have earlier been joint secretary of the BCCI under your presidentship. I only wish that you had shared the list of ‘unverified suspected bookies’ with me and other colleagues so that we could identify such persons and keep away from them.”

Taking the attack a step further, Thakur said, “It is curious that intimation about having known this ‘suspected bookie’ was brought to the ICC notice by your friend Mr Neeraj Gunde. Gunde incidentally is circulating to the media in Delhi the details of documents against your critics in the BCCI. He operates on your behalf.

“I would request atleast now share with me or other colleagues in BCCI the list of suspected bookies in India so that we may keep away from them. You may also share this information with your family members whose involvement in betting has been proved,” Thakur added.

In Chennai, Srinivasan said he did not want to reply to Thakur’s letter publicly, telling news agency PTI, “I have seen that letter written by Anurag which has been circulated to the media. He has written something in it but I feel it’s not proper to respond to him through media.”