In BCCI's three-member probe panel, flip-flop and signs of pressure
BCCI President N Srinivasan had initially said that the three-member committee will have two BCCI members and one independent member - something that was heavily criticised by the media.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a three-member inquiry commission to investigate the spot-fixing scandal in the recently-concluded season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The inquiry commission has two independent members and one BCCI member. The three-member committee consists of retired judges Justice T Jayaram Chouta, Justice R Balasubramanian and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale (in pic).
BCCI President N Srinivasan had initially said that the three-member committee will have two BCCI members and one independent member - something that was heavily criticised by the media, which questioned whether two BCCI members on a three-member committee would be able to conduct a fair and impartial probe. The question now is: did the BCCI buckle under pressure?
However, speaking to NDTV, BCCI Treasurer Ajay Shirke said there was no question of buckling under pressure. Mr Shirke clarified that early reports of Ravi Shastri and him being on the committee was just speculation by the media. (Read: Dhoni ducks questions on IPL spot-fixing, answers only on Champions Trophy)
The commission is set to look into the charges against S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, the three suspended Rajasthan Royals players arrested for spot-fixing, and former Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Meiyappan Gurunath. (Read: Kolkata vs Bangalore under spot-fixing scanner?)
Sources have told NDTV that the BCCI decided to probe the CSK management only after there was a huge uproar by Rajasthan Royals and other franchises. The IPL teams had insisted that this was to probe the players and had nothing to do with the owners.
Sources also said that Mr Srinivasan says that worst comes to worst, if the commission finds something against the CSK, he may even scrap the franchise, but will not let go of his position. (Read: IS Bindra should take over from Srinivasan as BCCI president, says Lalit Modi)
The clamour for the ouster of Mr Srinivasan as the BCCI president has been growing for the last few days. Jyotiraditya Scindia, chairman of the finance committee of the BCCI, openly stated on Tuesday that Mr Srinivasan must resign till the probe against corruption in IPL is on - something that the BCCI chief quickly dismissed as Mr Scindia's personal opinion.