Shashank Manohar blames fellow ex-Board president for the mess in Indian Premier League; says Srini should have stepped down in 2013 when spot fixing story broke
N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar
Kolkata: Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar on Saturday squarely blamed N Srinivasan for the mess in the high-profile IPL, saying that he was the "root of all scandals" and should immediately step down as the ICC chairman.
N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar. Pic/AFP
In a scathing attack against Srinivasan, Manohar said that the BCCI had not taken any timely action to cleanse the game and has no choice now but to comply with the Lodha Committee's recommendations.
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Manohar's attack came just a day ahead of the IPL's Governing Council Meeting in Mumbai where the future course of action and the implication of Lodha Committee's verdict on suspending Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years will be discussed.
"Srinivasan should have stepped down in 2013, no individual is ahead of institution and he too is the root of all scandals and should immediately step down from his position as chairman of ICC," he said.
Manohar, who met BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Friday night to discuss the issue, also said that IPL's Chief Operating Officer Sundar Raman should be removed and CBI should conduct a thorough inquiry to restore the faith of the public in the game.
"The BCCI (under Srinivasan) has done nothing to improve its image and now the Board has no option but to implement Lodha Committee's findings," Manohar told reporters here.
'BCCI has to be proactive'
He insisted that the BCCI's indifference compelled the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee to take action. "There has been no action from the BCCI to clean the mess and the Board's work is done by the court. BCCI has to be proactive and look at the interest of the institution and not that of an individual in order to re-impose faith in the minds of the people," he said.
He strongly felt that Raman should have been removed immediately after the Mudgal Committee report was made public. "Raman should have gone immediately after the Mudgal Committee report found him prima facie guilty of wrongdoings.
He ought to have stepped down immediately at that time. Now, to restore the faith of people in IPL and the game, Raman needs to go," he said. Manohar reiterated that the CBI should probe the spot fixing scandal as the Board has no investigating resources.
'CBI probe is required'
"According to me, a probe by an independent body like the CBI is required. Because, the BCCI does not have investigating powers. It is only the CBI which has the instigative power all over India, including in different states," he said.
On speculation that the BCCI could run the suspended teams for a period of two years, Manohar, an eminent lawyer, said that the Board rules do not permit that.
"If you ask me my personal opinion, the BCCI cannot adopt the teams because the rules and regulations of the Board did not permit to do so," he said. "It will be again conflict of interest and the public perception on this issue is really bad," said the former BCCI chief.
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