'Delhi gang' saved N Srinivasan, alleges IS Bindra

Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president Mr. IS Bindra said on Sunday that at an emergency meeting of the Indian Cricket Board today, nobody, apart from him, 'had the guts to ask N Srinivasan to resign' as BCCI president. (An extraordinarily fair stand: Srinivasan to NDTV)

This despite a majority of members wanting him to resign, Mr Bindra said. "Openly the Delhi gang of four that supported (decision to appoint Dalmiya as interim President). Others were silent spectators." (Also read: Who said what after the meeting)

At the meeting in Chennai, Mr Srinivasan has stepped aside as chief of BCCI till an inquiry into allegations of betting and spot-fixing is finished. His mentor and former BCCI boss Jagmohan Dalmiya has stepped in as interim president.

Mr Bindra said he had made his dissatisfaction clear at the meeting. "I categorically asked for his resignation. Nobody said they supported me. They were whispering but they did not have guts to speak out. Nobody else asked for his resignation," said Bindra. "I said it won't satisfy public and that faith needs to be restored, to which I was told it wasn't the public but the media. I said media is only reflecting what public thinks. (Read full story)

Sources said BJP leader and BCCI Vice Preisdent Arun Jaitley, who joined the meeting on video conference, proposed Jagmoham Dalmiya's name as the interim chief.

Mr Bindra seemed upset not only with Mr. Srinivasan but also Mr. Jaitley.

"I would say that Mr. Jaitley has had his way in this meeting. He was the one (from whom) most of the suggestions and proposals came from including the appointment of Mr. Dalmiya. I have no complaints about Mr. Dalmiya coming on, he is an experienced person but I am not happy with the way he has been brought in," he said.

Mr Bindra said he suggested to Mr. Dalmiya that he should not take up the post, but quoted the latter as saying that there is 'no point running away from responsibility.'