Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar hits out at N Srinivasan following Mudgal committee report

Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar has scathing criticism for N Srinivasan

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar has lashed out at N Srinivasan, who took over from the former in 2011, for tarnishing the public image of the BCCI, following the revelation from the Supreme Court of India that Srinivasan is one of the persons named in Mudgal committee’s final report on the IPL spot-fixing case of 2013.

Manohar added that the BCCI cannot afford to further postpone its AGM from November 20, because it would completely destroy the integrity of the board if it chose to do so.

"Once the date of the AGM was fixed by the Working Committee, the same could not and cannot be altered by any Office Bearer of the Board as they do not have authority to do so," Manohar said in his statement.

Manohar revealed BCCI rules dictate that the AGM cannot be held beyond September 30. However, the working committee members decided to postpone it to November 20 during their meeting, which Srinivasan also attended despite being asked not to do so, on October 26.

"Even under the Board Constitution, though it is mandatory to hold the AGM on or before 30th September, the Working Committee meeting which was attended by Mr Srinivasan fixed the date of the AGM as 20th of November, probably hoping that the names of Mr N Srinivasan and Meiyappan would be cleared," Manohar said. "However it appears that during today's hearing, as soon as the names of Srinivasan and Meiyappan were disclosed, the Counsel for the Board made a request for the postponement of the AGM and elections scheduled to be held on 20th November."

Manohar also said that, under Srinivasan’s regime, the BCCI has continuously fallen foul of adhering to rules, not allotting international matches to venues on a rotational basis being just one of them.

"It is thus evident that the instructions given to the Board Counsel are only with an intent to suit Mr Srinivasan as that would ensure that he still remains a back seat driver," Manohar said. "The moot question that needs to be answered is - who gave the Board Counsel instructions to plead for postponement of the AGM."

Urging the BCCI member associations to take action, Manohar concluded: "The image of the Board is tarnished by the actions and the attitude of Mr Srinivasan. The gentlemen's game, as the game of cricket has long been known, and the reputation of the Board is at its lowest due to the egoistic and autocratic behaviour of one individual. The Board and the game of Cricket is bigger than any individual and it is the responsibility and duty of every individual connected with the game to preserve the dignity and integrity of the Game and the Board, and 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."