BCCI to probe Chennai Super Kings' management after pressure from Rajasthan Royals, other franchises: sources
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.
Under pressure from Rajasthan Royals and other franchises the Board of Control for Cricket in India will probe Chennai Super Kings' management.
Sources have told NDTV that the three-member inquiry commission, which is set up to investigate the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League, will initiate a probe on CSK management after a huge uproar by Rajasthan Royals and other franchises.
Rajasthan Royals management were under the scanner after 3 of its players were arrested on allegations of spot-fixing. The spot-fixing scandal is increasingly dividing the franchises and many of them want a fair investigation. It is clear that the BCCI's decision to probe CSK management as well comes after pressure mounted from the disgruntled team owners.
According to the IPL code of conduct clause 12.3, an IPL franchise faces immediate termination from the tournament if "The Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/ or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League) and/ or the game of cricket."
BCCI president N Srinivasan said that if the commission finds something against CSK, he may even scrap the franchise, but will not let go of his position.
Addressing the media a few days ago, Srinivasan had stated that only the management of the Rajasthan Royals franchise would be probed. This reportedly created a huge uproar, and Chennai now face an inquiry as well.
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. (Read: Flip flops and signs of pressure)
Mr Srinivasan is the son of the co-founder of India Cements, the company that owns the Chennai IPL franchise. His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was arrested on allegations of betting in the IPL has been listed on many forums as the owner of CSK. However Srinivasan has distanced the Chennai francshise from Meiyappan, claiming he is just an 'enthusiast'.
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.