BCCI clears deck for Srinivasan’s return
30 July 2013 5:12 AM IST
Months after the IPL fixing and betting row rocked the entire cricketing fraternity, two persons at the helm of the scandal, CSK team principal Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra, were on Sunday cleared of spot fixing charges by the two-judge probe committee set up by the BCCI.
However, the betting charges against Meiyappan still remain. The internal probe panel, comprising former judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, submitted their report on Saturday.
Speaking to mediapersons, BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah said: ‘There is no evidence of any wrongdoing found by the judges against Raj Kundra, India Cements (which owns the CSK) and Rajasthan Royals.
The report will now be forwarded to the IPL governing council which will take a final decision when it meets in New Delhi on 2 August.’ Shah remained tight-lipped when asked if Meiyappan had been given a clean chit.
Considering the speed at which the probe panel completed the investigation (even the police hasn’t yet finished their probe), it can be said the stage is set for president-in-exile N Srinivasan’s return to the top BCCI post once again.
Srinivasan, father-in-law of Meiyappan and India Cements MD, could stage a comeback on 2 August at the board’s working committee meeting.
While questions like whether the probe was completed at such breath-neck speed just to facilitate the process of Srinavasan’s return or will Sunday’s report matter if the police investigation finds any one guilty, will be answered in due course, Sunday’s report does provide the Chennai powerhouse a breather to chalk out the next course of action.
Meanwhile, acting president Jagmohan Dalmiya said: ‘BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit chief Ravi Sawani’s report was discussed but since one player, Ajit Chandila, is in police custody, the probe could not be completed. We will wait for some time and then proceed accordingly. Sawani is currently on leave because of his son’s marriage. Let him come back.’
The spot-fixing scandal broke out when India pacer S Sreesanth, along with two other Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were held with 11 bookies for alleged spot-fixing in IPL VI. It led to the resignations of BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale, treasurer Ajay Shirke, who asked for Srinivasan’s resignation on moral grounds.
However, the betting charges against Meiyappan still remain. The internal probe panel, comprising former judges T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian, submitted their report on Saturday.
Speaking to mediapersons, BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah said: ‘There is no evidence of any wrongdoing found by the judges against Raj Kundra, India Cements (which owns the CSK) and Rajasthan Royals.
The report will now be forwarded to the IPL governing council which will take a final decision when it meets in New Delhi on 2 August.’ Shah remained tight-lipped when asked if Meiyappan had been given a clean chit.
Considering the speed at which the probe panel completed the investigation (even the police hasn’t yet finished their probe), it can be said the stage is set for president-in-exile N Srinivasan’s return to the top BCCI post once again.
Srinivasan, father-in-law of Meiyappan and India Cements MD, could stage a comeback on 2 August at the board’s working committee meeting.
While questions like whether the probe was completed at such breath-neck speed just to facilitate the process of Srinavasan’s return or will Sunday’s report matter if the police investigation finds any one guilty, will be answered in due course, Sunday’s report does provide the Chennai powerhouse a breather to chalk out the next course of action.
Meanwhile, acting president Jagmohan Dalmiya said: ‘BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit chief Ravi Sawani’s report was discussed but since one player, Ajit Chandila, is in police custody, the probe could not be completed. We will wait for some time and then proceed accordingly. Sawani is currently on leave because of his son’s marriage. Let him come back.’
The spot-fixing scandal broke out when India pacer S Sreesanth, along with two other Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were held with 11 bookies for alleged spot-fixing in IPL VI. It led to the resignations of BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale, treasurer Ajay Shirke, who asked for Srinivasan’s resignation on moral grounds.
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