N. Srinivasan is Autocratic, Remains BCCI's Back-Seat Driver: Shashank Manohar
N.Srinivasan, suspended by the Supreme Court till investigations into the IPL betting scandal were over, is eyeing another term as BCCI president.
Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar has slammed N. Srinivasan for surreptitiously running the Board's affairs even after he was stood down by the Supreme Court till investigations into IPL corruption were over. Manohar is a well-known Nagpur based lawyer and served the BCCI as its president from 2008-11.
Manohar said on Friday that the BCCI was flouting its own constitution by repeatedly putting off its Annual General Meeting that should have been held before September 30. "It appears that during today's hearing, as soon as the names of Srinivasan and Meiyappan were disclosed, the counsel for the BCCI made a request for the postponement of the AGM and elections scheduled on November 20," Manohar said.
"It is thus evident that the instructions given to the Board counsel are only with an intent to suit Srinivasan as that would ensure that he still remains a back-seat driver," said Manohar. The AGM has been postponed by four weeks, the second time it has been deferred, a first in BCCI's history!
The former BCCI president argued that since the Supreme Court has named Srinivasan and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, it means there are allegations of corruption against them in the report. Yet Srinivasan remote controls the BCCI, complained Manohar.
"The moot question that needs to be answered is who gave the BCCI Counsel instructions to plead for postponement of the AGM. If the investigation/hearing continues for several years will the Board keep functioning under the same set up?" said Manohar. (Also Read: Supreme Court Reveals More Names, No Relief for Srinivasan)
Calling Srinivasan "egoistic" and "autocratic," the 57-year-old Manohar appealed to all BCCI members "to preserve the dignity and integrity of the game and save the Board from further destruction."
Manohar, a known Sharad Pawar ally, may once again form a new axis that could challenge Srinivasan's juggernaut in BCCI. Manohar was reportedly keen on a contest with Srinivasan in 2013 but could not muster the necessary numbers. Pawar is keen to challenge Srinivasan this year. A lot will depend on what Supreme Court rules next week.