Former Top Cop Neeraj Kumar Appointed as the Advisor of BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit
Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar has been appointed as the chief of BCCI's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) in place of Ravi Sawani.
© NDTV
Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar was on Monday appointed as chief advisor of the BCCI's Anti Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) for a term of one year. (Srinivasan to remain ICC Chairman Till BCCI AGM in September)
The decision to appoint Kumar to the top post was taken at the Governing Council Meeting of the Indian Premier League here, which was chaired by IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla.
"We have appointed Neeraj Kumar as chief advisor to ACSU and he will have a term of one year," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said.
Incidentally, it was under Kumar's leadership that Delhi Police arrested former Test bowler S Sreesanth along with domestic spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandilafor allegedly getting involved in spot-fixing while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League.
Ravi Sawani was earlier the chief of the ACSU before his term ended.
Former India captain Ganguly and Team Director Ravi Shastri attended the meeting. Sawani also attended the meeting to update on ACSU measures.
Thakur said that Kolkata will host the final match of the ongoing IPL. The Eden Gardens will also host one play-off match while Pune and Mumbai will be the venues of the other two play-off games.
Asked about the tragic death of promising Bengal batsman Ankit Keshri after an on-field incident in Kolkata, Thakur said, "It was a very unfortunate incident. CAB will look into matter if there was any negligence on anyone's part.
"We will discuss the issue at the Working Committee meeting on April 26 in Kolkata. We lost a youngster," he said.
The GC members observed two minutes' silence in memory of Ankit Keshri during the meeting.
Shukla said that Sawani will continue as ACSU boss and will coordinate with Kumar.
"Mr Neeraj Kumar will be the chief advisor to BCCI's ACSU and would suggest measures to strengthen our anti-corruption drive. He will be assisted by IPS officer Madhusudan Sharma. Sawani will continue in his role and would co-ordinate with Mr Kumar," Shukla said.
"Today Mr Sawani came and briefed us about what further measures be taken on strengthening ACSU measures," he added.
Shukla also said that Ganguly gave a lot of positive suggestions in his first meeting as GC member.
"Sourav gave suggestions about contracts, how players' payments can be uniformly chalked, how to ensure that U-23 capped players are encouraged about taking Ranji Trophy and Test cricket seriously," said Shukla.
Asked about the 500th match of the IPL on May 3 in Mumbai, Shukla said, "We have grand plans for that day at Cricket Club of India in Mumbai."
Rajasthan Royals take on Delhi Daredevils at the Braboune Stadium on May 3.
During the meeting, Shukla also informed the members about the response that the IPL Fan Parks generated.
"IPL chairman, Rajeev Shukla briefed the house on the positive response received on the IPL Fan Parks and the house recommended that BCCI should plan for more venues in the next season," BCCI said in a release issued later.
The Indian team recently defeated Pakistan in a thrilling final in Cape Town to bring home the Blind Cricket World Cup for the first time and BCCI is now mulling a proposal to support the team.
"The GC also supported the proposal of the Chairman, Mr. Rajeev Shukla, to consider supporting the blind cricket team of India, who recently won the World Cup. The proposal is recommended to the Working Committee of the BCCI," the release added.