BCCI Puts Off AGM Again, Awaits Court Verdict on N. Srinivasan, Sundar Raman
BCCI's AGM, scheduled on November 20, will now take place on December 17. Election of new president will depend on Supreme Court's verdict on the future of suspended president N. Srinivasan on November 24.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India working committee in an emergent meeting in Chennai on Tuesday, has for the second time postponed its Annual General Meeting. Scheduled on November 20, the working committee has now decided to hold the AGM on December 17. This is a first in the history of the Board. According to the constitution, AGMs should be held every year and before September 30.
The BCCI's AGM has been affected by the Supreme Court hearing on the IPL scam. The next hearing is on November 24 when four "non-playing" members, served notices for their links with the scam, have to reply to a Special Supreme Court Bench. Two of the four are president-in-exile N. Srinivasan and IPL COO Sundar Raman. (Related read: Sundar Raman, the brain behind Srinivasan)
On charges against Srinivasan, the working committee felt "there is no taint on the conduct of Mr. N. Srinivasan and the allegations levelled against him by unscrupulous elements were baseless and were aimed at destabilizing the working of the BCCI."
"We will wait for the Supreme Court decision. Whatever they say, we will accept," said BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel told the media in Chennai on Tuesday, hinting clearly that there will be no action against Sundar Raman or Srinivasan till proved guilty. (Also read: Will Act of "Cover Up" Amount to Misdemeanour? N. Srinivasan Fate in Supreme Court's Hands Now)
A BCCI release said: "Mr Sundar Raman gave his explanation relating to his role with reference to the conclusions relating to him in the report of the Mudgal committee. The Members heard his explanation and decided that the Board should support Sundar Raman to represent himself before the Supreme Court."
Srinivasan is seeking another term as BCCI president. The probe report on the IPL scam has already said he was not involved in match-fixing or betting but shielded individuals who were involved in betting. Sundar Raman has also been linked with bookies. (Also read: MS Dhoni's Stand on Gurunath Meiyappan Contradicted by Mudgal Report)
Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra have also been served notices for wrong-doings in the IPL. Both have charges of betting against them.