IPL scandal - Chennai Super Kings' Michael Hussey accepts Gurunath Meiyappan 'ran the team'

Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in IPL betting case

Michael Hussey, a member of the Chennai Super Kings squad since IPL‘s inception, has accepted that Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, was indeed running the team’s affairs.

In what is turning out to be a tell-all story, Hussey, in his book Underneath the Southern Cross, has blown the lid off his bosses’ efforts to hide the true identity of Meiyappan, who’s been accused of betting in IPL and passing crucial information to the bookies.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, in his book, Hussey reveals, “Our owner was Indian Cements, headed by Mr Srinivasan.

“As he was also on the board of the BCCI, he gave control of the team to his son-in-law Mr. Gurunath. He ran the team along with Kepler Wessels, who was coach.”

It’s the first time a player has accepted Gurunath Meiyappan’s involvement in the team affairs

It’s the first time when a player has accepted Meiyappan’s involvement in the team, with Srinivasan so far denying any links whatsoever, and calling him a “cricket enthusiast”, who travelled with the team.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case against Meiyappan regarding illegal betting, and it’ll be on everyone’s mind if Hussey’s revelation in his book is used against the BCCI president’s son-in-law.

N Srinivasan was elected for a third term as BCCI president on Sunday, but can’t run its affairs straightaway after a rider from Supreme Court which denied him complete control as long as the case against Meiyappan is pending in front of the judicial bench.

A 2-member panel put together by BCCI had absolved Chennai Super Kings of any wrongdoings, a decision which was questioned by the Supreme Court itself.

The issue went to court when Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) moved to court against the panel’s findings.

Srinivasan, apart from holding the BCCI top position, is also the vice-chairman and managing director of India Cements, the company which owns Chennai Super Kings.

Meiyappan was often seen at player auctions, team dugout and his Twitter bio, before the controversy broke, introduced him as CSK’s Team Principal. Even his IPL accreditation pass referred to him as a ‘Team Owner’.

The case in Supreme Court will be up for hearing next on October 7.