BCCI emergent meeting: More trouble for Srinivsan?

Its image having taken a beating following the controversies surrounding the IPL, the BCCI will hold an Emergent Working Committee Meeting on Sunday to prepare its response for the Supreme Court hearing on April 22.

No agenda has been sent to the members, buas b the main discussion will be to deliberate on the new probe panel to investigate the IPL betting and spot-fixing scandal.

The BCCI has been asked by the Court to come back with its panel names or the Court will have the option of appointing a CBI or SIT (Special Investigation Team) enquiry.

The board office-bearers were reluctant to have this meeting but have been forced by members who don’t see the point in protecting Srinivasan.

It’s a tricky situation for Srinivasan’s group. While they have the majority and can dictate the decision-making, they have to come up with a probe panel which can do a fair job.

The anti-Srinivasan group is expected to put pressure on getting former BCCI president Shashank Manohar to head the probe panel. The Nagpur-based lawyer is a no-nonsense man with a clean image and a thorough understanding of the board’s functioning.

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Srinivasan’s biggest advantage has been a weak opposition. This time, it could be more vociferous and will be led by Vidarbha and Punjab Cricket Association representatives. Interim president, Shivlal Yadav, known to be from the Srinivasan camp, will be in the chair, and it will be crucial how he handles the group demanding a strong probe panel.

VCA protests
VCA president, Prakash Dixit, has already written a letter to Yadav saying, “Enough is enough. It’s time we clean up the mess in the BCCI. To restore the faith and bring integrity into the BCCI’s running the game, let’s initiate a process to start a probe committee completely independent of any bias. Let no office-bearer or BCCI functionary be a part of it.”

Manohar was deliberating on whether to attend the meeting as the VCA nominee although he has been advised to stay away. But plans may change if Srinivasan attends the meet as TNCA representative. Office-bearers in the UAE, including secretary, Sanjay Patel, and treasurer, Anirudh Choudhary, are flying back to India for the meeting.

(posted on Hindustantimes)