N Srinivasan still has say in BCCI functioning, says IS Bindra

Former BCCI President IS Bindra on Friday took potshots at the cricket authorities for allowing N Srinivasan to still call the shots even after stepping aside as Board chief, in the wake of lack of clarity on who would represent India in the ICC meetings in London next week.

"Nothing is clear on the board front. For a start who control's affairs of the BCCI and thereby runs cricket, once a religion but now a business resulting in controversies, corruption and lots of illegitimate benefits," Bindra wrote on his blog.

"Is it Jagmohan Dalmiya, given a media name of interim president, a designation which has no locus standi in the board manual or is the much controversial Narayanswamy Srinivasan who was forced to step down by an aggressive media once the involvement of his son-in-law in the IPL betting scandal came to light.

"To all intents and purposes it seems it's the latter. One report states that Srini will represent the BCCI in the crucial ICC sub-committee meetings. If that were the case its evident that he still calls the shots. If not, why should he, having stepped aside, step in," he said.

Bindra wondered how a person who has stepped aside "on moral grounds" should be allowed to represent the BCCI in the ICC meetings which would discuss financial issues.

"Now to the bigger meeting of the Finance and Commercial affairs committee to discuss the next Commercial rights issue. This is where all the patronage lies and that's a meeting Srini would certainly like to attend (read control)- be it in London next week or to another venue if deferred by his influence.

"The question is that should someone who was forced to step aside from his position of authority on moral grounds (with a financial loop) be allowed or entrusted to be a part of a process involving an enormous financial transaction," he said.

Talking about some reports which said Srinivasan could be attending the ICC meetings to defend India's stated stand against the umpire Decision Review System, Bindra said," The reason being floated is even more interesting - without Srini the ICC would force the DRS (Decision Review System) down India's throat on a majority vote.

"Huh! Nine out of ten cricket playing nations support it. India, however big a contributor it is to the world cricket exchequer has only one vote and remains outnumbered.

"The more curious question remains why does India (read Srini) oppose the DRS, a system which has found favour amongst all for being fair and largely accurate. Does it not also justifiably curtail powers of on field umpires whose involvements have also been thrown up in the latest match fixing scandals? Ironically, India has been a beneficiary of the DRS on a few occasions in the ongoing Champions Trophy and in CWC 2011," he wrote.