BCCI president N. Srinivasan denies censoring commentators

N. Srinivasan either denies allegations against the BCCI or refuses to comment on them

N.Srinivasan has firmly denied the accusations against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of censoring the commentators contracted to either the ESPN-Star or the BCCI.

NDTV has quoted N.Srinivasan as saying: “We don’t censor commentators. This word censorship is incorrect. BCCI doesn’t tell the commentator you say this, you cannot say this and things like that.”

The widespread allegations against the BCCI blaming them of implementing several restrictions for the commentators employed by the board arouse when Ian Chappell, a former Australian skipper who now works as a television commentator, declined ESPN-Star’s offer to commentate in the ongoing bilateral series between India and Australia.

N.Srinivasan added: “What has he said? Ian Chappell is not employed by us. We have never said anything to him. We are talking about people employed by us. BCCI doesn’t tell the commentator anything.

“BCCI in no way interferes with the freedom of the press. But, a commentator should be a commentator, and a journalist should be a journalist.”

When drilled about BCCI’s new ambition- stepping into the world of TV production, the BCCI president had this to say,” Television production was disorganised. It wasn’t professional. There were lots of freelancers involved, the production house was not coordinating things.

“We wanted to make it systematic and we wanted the domestic cricket covered professionally so that we can monitor performances, evaluate umpires.”