The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday approached the Supreme Court for clarification on whether the former president and ICC chairman, N. Srinivasan, can participate in its meetings.
The BCCI refers to Mr. Srinivasan’s claims that there is no conflict of interest associated to him as he has already divested all the stakes of India Cements Ltd, the company that owned team Chennai Super Kings (CSK) which was banned by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice (retired) R.M. Lodha committee in connection with the Indian Premier League betting controversy.
Mr. Srinivasan has maintained that he has no shares or conflict of interest or commercial interest in the CSK. He has said he continues to hold meetings as the ICC chairman.
The BCCI has asked the court to clarify whether, in the current situation, any conflict of interest would arise with Mr. Srinivasan’s presence at the meetings.
It asked the court to either resolve the issue or refer the question to the Lodha committee.
In its January 22 judgment on the IPL controversy, the Supreme Court had held that “the BCCI shall hold elections within six weeks in accordance with the prevalent rules and regulations subject to the condition that no one who has any commercial interest in the BCCI events [including Mr. Srinivasan] shall be eligible for contesting the elections for any post whatsoever.”
It said the disqualification would hold good till “the person concerned divests his commercial interest or till the Justice Lodha Committee considers and awards suitable punishment, whichever is later.”
Mr. Srinivasan has told the BCCI that he can participate at the meetings as the Lodha committee, after a thorough probe, has not indicted him.
