What about someone filing a case against TV channels for cheating 1.24 billion Indians by telecast of false news on N. Srinivasan from the evening of Friday 31/5/2013 to 2.30 p.m. on Sunday 2/6/2013? The coverage was over the top. One channel said it was Endgame Srinivasan. Another called it Super Sunday. Other channels had different reports all saying N. Srinivasan was out.
It began with the reports of resignations of Ajay Shirke and Sanjay Jagdale as BCCI treasurer and secretary respectively. Soon there were reports that five vice presidents will resign. However no vice president resigned and East Zone vice president said he will not resign. Around 6.30 p.m. there was news that working committee meeting will take place on 8/6/2013. Some had questioned why such a long time.
On the morning of 1/6/2003 Arun Jaitley said you will hear something significant in a day. Later in the day Anurag Thakur convened BCCI working committee meeting at 11 a.m. on 2/6/2013 in Madras. The time was changed to 2.30 p.m. ostensibly for Arun Jaitley to make it to the meeting. Rajeev Shukla resigned as IPL chairman. One channel called it a quake but it was nothing of that sort. Headlines Today talked of Sharad Pawar plotting a coup against N. Srinivasan.
The meeting took place. Arun Jaitley, Anurag Thakur and Rajeev Shukla attended via video conference in Delhi. Ajay Shirke and Sanjay Jagdale attended via video conference in Bombay. They were special invitees. N. Srinivasan refused to resign. He agreed to step aside till the probe in spot-fixing is over. Jagmohan Dalmiya was to carry on the functions of president. It was a remarkable return for a man who was accused of misappropriation funds, expelled from BCCI and was in jail for some time. Ajay Shirke and Sanjay Jagdale were asked to reconsider their decisions.
After the meeting I. S. Bindra said he asked N. Srinivasan to resign. Nobody else had the guts to ask for his resignation. N. Srinivasan said nobody asked him to resign. It is Bindra’s word against Srinivasan’s. Jagmohan Dalmiya said he did not hear I. S. Bindra ask for N. Srinivasan’s resignation.
Some have questioned the legality of the working committee meeting saying 72 hours notice should have been given and there is no provision for attending via video conference.
After the meeting when reporters asked Rajeev Shukla said I am just an ordinary working committee member. Why do you want to know my opinion? Sharad Pawar said I have nothing to do with cricket.
TV channels had egg on their face. For them it was anti-climax. They should have known better. They should not interpreted statements to suit them. They heard what they wanted to hear. They saw what they wanted to see. They ignored everything else. Someone had said N. Srinivasan will not resign. He will spring a surprise. That statement was ignored.
There is uncertainty about the third member of BCCI probe panel since Sanjay Jagdale refused to be part of it. There are questions about two former judges who are part of the panel. A. C. Muthaiah said both are from South India. N. Ram on CNN-IBN said both judges are unsuitable but did not say why and said he will tell that to Rajdeep Sardesai in private. That is not fair on those former judges.
Some questioned why former cricketers were not speaking. Sunil Gavaskar issued a statement that he is contracted to a channel (NDTV 24×7) and cannot speak to other channels. He answers questions on that channel. What may be immoral to one may not be immoral to another.
Those who failed to oust Srinivasan now targetted Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Anil Kumble for conflict of interest though Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s association with Rhiti Sports and Anil Kumble running coaching camps was public knowledge.
What next? Where do we go from here? How to improved BCCI? I have suggestions.
Only those associations that field Ranji Trophy teams (Baroda, Saurashtra, Hyderabad, Karnataka, Vidarbha etc.) should have voting right in BCCI. Cricket Club of India, National Cricket Club and such associations that do not field Ranji Trophy teams should not have voting right in BCCI.
The officials of BCCI and associations should have some qualifications as cricketers.
The president of BCCI should have played at least 50 Tests for India.
Other officials of BCCI like vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, joint secretary should have played at least 25 Tests for India.
I say Tests for India because I don’t want cricketers who have played for other countries to hold those positions.
Officials of associations that field Ranji Trophy teams should have played at least 25 Ranji Trophy/ Duleep Trophy/Irani Trophy matches or Tests/ODIs or T20s representing associations or India. Members of such associations should have played at least 10 Ranji Trophy or other first class matches.
It was all the making of the Media. They had trial of Mr. Srinivasan, wanted him to go out. But, what happened at the end of the day was totally unexpected. I welcome your suggestions.