ICC chief Srinivasan named in IPL scandal

India’s Supreme Court reveals names of four officials names in corruption case

NEW DELHI: Indian cricket was thrown into turmoil yesterday when the country's highest court said four top officials, including the sport's world chief N Srinivasan, may have been involved in corruption in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Supreme Court said Srinivasan, his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, IPL Chief Executive Sundar Raman and Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra were among those who were investigated by a panel it had appointed to look into the scandal.

"We have seen the report and it did suggest some misdemeanour on part of certain individuals," the Press Trust of India quoted a two-judge bench as saying, without elaborating.

"Certain findings recorded by the committee are understood to have indicted some individuals whose conduct has been investigated."

The court ordered that copies of the report be handed to these four officials and asked their lawyers to submit any objections within four days.

It also said the identities of the remaining nine people under investigation, most of who are believed to be cricketers, should not be disclosed. Their names were handed to the court in a sealed envelope in February.

A lawyer for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told the court the body would delay its annual elections scheduled for November 20, in which Srinivasan was expected to be re-elected as president for a three-year term.

IPL in for upheaval if officials proven guilty

A guilty verdict against the officials could lead to a major shake-up in the glitzy T20 tournament where rules state that a franchise should be banned if any official is found to have brought the game to disrepute.

The next hearing in the case will be on November 24.

Meiyappan is the team principal of the Chennai Super Kings franchise, a team owned by Srinivasan's India Cements company and captained by India skipper MS Dhoni.

The court had barred Srinivasan from carrying out his duties as BCCI president until it delivered its final verdict, but did not stop him from heading the ICC.

The sixth IPL season last year was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several IPL officials and cricketers, including former Test fast-bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world's top players signed up for huge fees by companies and high-profile individuals in a glitzy mix of sport and entertainment.

‘Srinivasan has tarnished BCCI’s image’

Upon hearing about the revelation, former BCCI president Shashank Manohar lashed out at Srinivasan.

“The image of the board is tarnished by the actions and the attitude of Mr Srinivasan,” said Manohar, according to CNN-IBN. “The gentlemen's game, as the game of cricket has long been known as, and the reputation of the board is at its lowest due to the egoistic and autocratic behaviour of one individual.

“Through this press note, I appeal to all members of the board to rise to the occasion and prevent the board and the game from being further destroyed."

 

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