Not a good move
One doesn’t know if the promises made by BCCI and Srinivasan especially will be kept following his ascent to the...
Sanity did not prevail at the ongoing annual International Cricket Council (ICC) conference in Melbourne as N Srinivasan — suspended by the Indian Supreme Court over corruption allegations — took over as the first-ever chairman of the governing body of the game (proponents of zero tolerance against corruption and fixing).
Ignoring the sentiments of cricket fans and leading journalists, the ICC seemingly blindly followed dictation from its most powerful and financially strong member, India. Mr Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) despite the Indian Supreme Court directive barring him from holding the office of the president of the body. The SC withheld the suspension recently, and reiterated that the 69-year-old cannot resume office while a commission probes corruption in the Indian Premier League. The baffling thing is that the ICC totally ignored the fact that Srinivasan is in the middle of an inquiry and now risks real embarrassment if the charges against him are proven. The Mudgal Commission investigating the IPL matter will not finish its probe for at least another month. Even Indian cricket pundits and media have lambasted Srinivasan’s appointment at the helm of international cricket and wide cracks appeared between various associations working under the BCCI.
Meanwhile, the ICC reforms that were brought to the table in January have now been formalised. The BCCI, England and Australian cricket board trio is going to govern the game as it enters a new era, but Srinivasan is now empowered to ‘rule’ the game. The industrialist has the reputation of being arrogant and stubborn in his dealings and tends to force his way through with a bullish mind. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also endorsed Srinivasan’s appointment and hopes to earn good revenue by the expected restoration of bilateral cricket with India. At the same time, one doesn’t know if the promises made by the BCCI and Srinivasan especially will be kept following his ascent to the top.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2014.
Ignoring the sentiments of cricket fans and leading journalists, the ICC seemingly blindly followed dictation from its most powerful and financially strong member, India. Mr Srinivasan was nominated by the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) despite the Indian Supreme Court directive barring him from holding the office of the president of the body. The SC withheld the suspension recently, and reiterated that the 69-year-old cannot resume office while a commission probes corruption in the Indian Premier League. The baffling thing is that the ICC totally ignored the fact that Srinivasan is in the middle of an inquiry and now risks real embarrassment if the charges against him are proven. The Mudgal Commission investigating the IPL matter will not finish its probe for at least another month. Even Indian cricket pundits and media have lambasted Srinivasan’s appointment at the helm of international cricket and wide cracks appeared between various associations working under the BCCI.
Meanwhile, the ICC reforms that were brought to the table in January have now been formalised. The BCCI, England and Australian cricket board trio is going to govern the game as it enters a new era, but Srinivasan is now empowered to ‘rule’ the game. The industrialist has the reputation of being arrogant and stubborn in his dealings and tends to force his way through with a bullish mind. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also endorsed Srinivasan’s appointment and hopes to earn good revenue by the expected restoration of bilateral cricket with India. At the same time, one doesn’t know if the promises made by the BCCI and Srinivasan especially will be kept following his ascent to the top.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2014.