Inclusion of Shastri in BCCI probe committee creates furore

The Supreme Court of India had last week directed the BCCI to recommend a probe committee that would autonomously scrutinize the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting scam. This fallout is due to the apex court having received thirteen names inclusive of suspended BCCI president N. Srinivasan in a report submitted by an inquiry committee. According to the directive from the Supreme Court the BCCI had named former Test all-rounder Ravi Shastri and former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Jai Narain Patel in the three-man panel to investigate the IPL 6 scandal involving allegations of illegal betting and match fixing. The cricketing fraternity seems to be divided over both the choices of the BCCI, Shastri and Patel. The meeting in Mumbai took almost three hours to agree upon three names and former Central Bureau of Investigation head RK Raghavan was supposedly the third to be on the committee. BCCI disclosed that their lawyers would be present their chosen committee only before the apex court. BCCI seemed to be divided on the choice of panelists with many other former cricketers and former BCCI President Shashank Manohar having opposed Shastri’s inclusion. Manohar claimed that Shastri was a paid employee of the Board and a member of more than two important IPL committees. Shastri is also commentating in the ongoing IPL 7 in UAE and has close ties with discarded Srinivasan. Manohar stressed that Shastri would therefore clearly face conflict of interest and so it would be inappropriate to chose him. Shastri stated that he was surprised that his name was even considered. During the meeting Manohar’s choice lawyer Somnath Chatterjee was down against Shastri whom most preferred. Similarly Raghavan inclusion was because he had received more votes from the BCCI members. Then Sharad Pawar objected to Justice Patel’s selection as he has a family relationship with interim BCCI joint-head, Shivlal...

ICC revamp could make BCCI units richer by Rs 15 crore

The International Cricket Council is set to overhaul the revenue distribution structure. It will translate to an additional cash bonanza in the range of Rs 15 crore for the affiliated state units of the BCCI in India to expand the game and infrastructure at the grassroots level. The move will be finalized as soon as the ICC completes the process of clearing the ‘Position Paper’ that proffers more revenue to India, England and Australia. This received sum from ICC to BCCI state units will be in addition to the regular grant and money from TV sponsorship rights that the associations have been receiving. In accordance to the new revenue model the BCCI gets 21 percent of the profits. Yet a lot of confusion still persists on the other main agenda of the ICC like the joining of Narayanswamy Srinivasan as chairman due to his removal from the chair as the president of BCCI by the Supreme Court of India. The apex court of India seems set to free cricket of its bad reputation while directing it on a redemption...

National selectors off overseas tour

The cricket board has implemented a policy that will not send out national selectors abroad with the Indian team when it plays overseas, it was announced by BCCI’s vice president Ravi Savant to reporters today on April 14, 2014. Hence foreign tours have been erased from the schedule of the national selectors as of date and they will not be traveling out of country anymore. Savant spoke about the policy as he was discussing the matter about the decision of MCA to re-appoint chief national selector Sandeep Patil as the head of its selection panel after the former India batsman quit the post last April. He also added that the MCA is all set to appoint coaches for various age groups for the next season which included the senior cricket team as well. The coaches will be finalized today on April 14, 2014 for each team and appointed only after successful completion of interviews conducted by the managing committee. He spoke on the minimal requisites for players making it to the Mumbai side. Savant state that the probable players would have to play at least five local club matches in the elite group to make them eligible for becoming a part of the Mumbai...

Supreme Court passes verdict on BCCI

IPL VII will be held on schedule while Gavaskar will take over as interim president of the BCCI instead of Srinivasan whose tenure was brought to an abrupt end today by the verdict from the Supreme Court. In a landmark decision the apex court of the nation has decided to haul up the BCCI, cricket’s apex regulatory body in India for failing to complete its duty and keep cricket clean and disciplined. It is very evident that this decision will have its bearing on the world cricket body ICC as well as Srinivasan was supposed to take over as the chief of the ICC in July 2014. The Court also gave directions that it was upon Sunil Gavaskar to decide whether Sundar Raman the current CEO of IPL would continue at his post or be changed too. It was also mentioned in the verdict that the senior most vice-president of BCCI would look into the other affairs of the board. Being the interim president of BCCI Gavaskar was granted powers to all issues concerning IPL by the Court. Shivlal Yadav, who being the senior most vice president will take over from Gavaskar after IPL is over. Except players and commentators, no other employee of India Cements or its subsidiary or associate companies will participate in any duties of the BCCI ruled the Supreme Court. The next hearing will take place on April 16. Srinivasan has been suspended from BCCI and all the associated activities henceforth by the Court. Gavaskar will also be compensated for undertaking the job of interim president by BCCI under the direction of the Court. The Supreme Court has also told Gavaskar to free himself of all contractual obligations with BCCI for commentary of cricket matches to disable conflicting...

Bindra, Shashank Manohar wants Srinivasan to quit

Shashank Manohar the predecessor to Narayanswamy Srinivasan as the president of the BCCI wants all matches of IPL VI to be probed if required by the CBI. He stuck to his opinion stated 10 months ago when the controversy had broken out that IPL should be cleansed of illegal betting, spot and match fixing before it kicks off this year. Till then Manohar feels that IPL VII should be suspended till the faith of people on the game of cricket in IPL are reinstated. He reiterated that the basic objective of the BCCI is to ensure a clean and disciplined environment for cricket in India as it is the most popular sport of the nation. It must not be diluted under any circumstances despite any amount of money or profits the game of cricket brings in. On the other hand Inderjit Singh Bindra a former president of the BCCI has said that Srinivasan’s conduct of not having quit from his position for 10 months since the IPL-6 betting and fixing allegations came to light is an abject disgrace for the apex cricket regulatory body in India. He said that it establishes beyond any reasonable doubt that Srinivasan is totally insecure about the truth that could be revealed to all if he no longer heads the BCCI. Bindra also stated that it seems that even after the direction of the apex court of India it seems he is reluctant to resign. Bindra said that the members of the BCCI should have shoved him out when the IPL-6 controversy had erupted last year. Bindra added that Srinivasan is planning to plead the Supreme Court to order another time-bound probe into the murky allegations reported by the Mudgal panel by the BCCI when he will step...