Have Done Nothing to Tarnish the Game: N Srinivasan to NDTV
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, N Srinivasan - ICC's first chairman - said that the fight against malpractices is on the right track and that he has not done anything to bring disrepute to the sport.
N. Srinivasan - the first chairman of a revamped International Cricket Council - has said the world body is focused on eradicating corruption from the sport but that it will be a gradual process.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, N. Srinivasan said the fight against malpractices is on the right track. "The code of ethics is being updated and players have started reporting the slightest approach. It is a step in the right direction but it is going to be a gradual step," he said. "ICC has done a good job in educating people and helping them learn more about how to avoid corrupt elements."
Srinivasan, however, did admit that there are certain limitations in combating corruption. "ICC's effort is to make cricket 100% clean but ICC's Anti-corruption Unit does not enjoy the same powers as law enforcing agencies around the world do. We will continue our fight though."
While he did not elaborate on allegations of conflict of interest against him, Srinivasan maintained that he had a clean track record as BCCI chief. Srinivasan owns Chennai Super Kings and employed people from India Cements, a company where is the Managing Director. His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been indicted by a court-appointed committee for betting in the Indian Premier League.
In the wake of the IPL scandal, Srinivasan has been barred by the Supreme Court from functioning as BCCI supremo. "There are certain matters in the court and I can't speak on them. (But) I have not done anything to bring disrepute or tarnish the game," Srinivasan said. "I stepped aside as BCCI chief and I didn't go back to poke my nose after that."
The 69-year-old Tamil Nadu industrialist, seen as the most powerful man in world cricket, was among 13 people named by the Justice Mukul Mudgal panel in a damning report on corruption in IPL.
In March, the Supreme Court said it was "nauseating" that Srinivasan continued as cricket board chief and said he should go in the interest of a clean-up in cricket. The probe panel is expected to submit its report August-end. Till then, Srinivasan will not be able to chair BCCI meetings, at least officially. Former Test off-spinner Shivlal Yadav, who is a senior BCCI vice-president, is standing in as interim BCCI president.
But the court did not stop his nomination to the ICC post.