The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday chose to steer clear of any further controversy, primarily surrounding its president N. Srinivasan, and deferred its much-talked about Working Committee meeting.
Instead, the Governing Council of the BCCI-owned Indian Premier League (IPL) decided to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court order, which had held the constitution of a two-judge probe panel into the IPL spot-fixing and betting allegations as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
The development has stalled Mr. Srinivasan’s prospects of getting involved in the day-to-day functioning of the Board again. Interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya will continue to discharge his duties because of the ongoing court cases.
Amid widespread speculation about the future of Mr. Srinivasan, some key members of the Board met behind closed doors to chart out the safest path.
According to a top BCCI official, the Working Committee could not meet owing to a technical issue. Interestingly, the agenda letter for the meeting, called at a short notice, did not include the word ‘emergent,’ which, it was learnt, was considered essential as per the constitution of the Board.
At the IPL Governing Council meeting, BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley elaborated on the important points of the Bombay High Court order. Thereafter, the members, fearing legal sanctions, decided to move the Supreme Court with a special leave petition.
“At its meeting, the IPL Governing Council [Mr. N. Srinivasan having recused himself] considered at length the issues arising from the Bombay High Court order regarding the constitution of the probe commission, which was formed to investigate the complaints made by the BCCI against India Cements Limited, Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited, Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement.
“The Governing Council believes that the probe commission was properly constituted in accordance with the IPL Operational Rules, and has consequently decided that an appeal should be filed in the Honourable Supreme Court. This decision having been made, N. Srinivasan rejoined the meeting and, in the light of the pending appeal to the Supreme Court, requested Jagmohan Dalmiya to continue discharging his functions at the BCCI for the present,” the statement said.
Though he did not speak to the media, Mr. Dalmiya walked out of the meeting hall with a smile. Mr. Srinivasan, who had a tough time with the media on his arrival here on Thursday evening, stayed away from the limelight.
