PERSPECTIVE Finally the Supreme Court has come down hard on the BCCI chief N Srinivasan on Tuesday, asking him to step down from chair at the earliest so that a fair probe can take place in the IPL spot fixing and betting scandal. Interestingly, the court is in no mood to relent to the ‘fake’ promises made by the Srinivasan and party, this time around.
Nonetheless, the ever so powerful India Cements Ltd. owner is not in a mood to let his ‘detractors’ play the roost, and bog him down. And, if the news reports are to be taken at their face value, Srinivasan can also go the Sahara way, which would be most thwarting for the 69-year old dictatorial head of the highest body of cricket in India.
Justice AK Patnaik told the court in New Delhi, "Unless the BCCI president stands down, there can be no fair investigation. It's nauseating. Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair? If you don't step down, then we will pass an order.”
With son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan named in the Mudgal probe report, and Srini busy defending his case still, only a man with head not firmly placed on his shoulders can buy the “theories of innocence” shelved by the man, ever so often. It can be ‘nauseating’ for anyone trying it against the warning.
However, only Srinivasan’s exit can save Indian cricket now.
With a complete and authoritative hold over the BCCI now, the man is ruling the board with “only stick” approach.
Never before a BCCI president was accused of holding “conflict of interest” – owns Chennai Super Kings franchise in IPL, other than heading the Indian cricket board. His company India Cements Ltd., which was passing through losses in 1990’s, has regained a brand image since he took over the leadership of BCCI.
Leading English daily Mint reports him saying “It is not a sudden, impulsive act,” he said of India Cements’ entrance into IPL with the Chennai franchise. “This was a very clear, cold analytical position with a view to solely building our brand more extensively and deeply throughout the important market that we have, which is Tamil Nadu. Now what we have come up with is a very innovative method of improving our brand without spending anywhere near the money my competitors have spent,” in its story titled N. Srinivasan’s controversial innings at BCCI.
Therefore, without having to pocket out as much as his competitors in the field of cement production Srinivasan achieved much more at small costs after his association with the game of cricket. A company based in Tamil Nadu is now a well known firm in India. India Cements posted a net revenue of Rs. 5,159.47 crore for the 2013 fiscal, up 11% over the previous year.
(However, and very interestingly, the company return on equity is the lowest in the industry. India Cements' net profit declined by 98 per cent in the December quarter at Rs. 42 lakh)
The newspaper further reports that about 40 cricketers are working as full-time employees, including Rahul Dravid, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin and Ms Dhoni, who is also appointed vice-president of the company in February previous year.
This clearly shows how the game of cricket, which is as popular as Bollywood and religion in the country got commercialized after Srinivasan, entered the fray in the year 2001.
BCCI under him has become more of a closed hub with only him calling the shots and others nodding their heads without questioning anything.
The kind of clout the BCCI has earned in the world cricket over the years based on money power, being the richest board in the board, is worth considering.
BCCI’s decision on any matter is what the rest of the cricket boards functioning globally have to agree to.
Former IPL chairman and vocal critic of Srinivasan was upbeat with Supreme Court’s verdict saying “Big task ahead to win back the hearts and faith of the fans. Second step to rid everyone connected to India Cements from cricket," Modi said. We had lost a few battles along the way. But winning the war against fixing is the only way forward. Waiting for Dusshera to happen early this year after the Modern day Ravan is gone?” while talking to a leading TV news channel on Tuesday.
Those who have been tracking Srinivasan’s moves in the BCCI for last many years tell that he has shrewdly cemented his position in various governing bodies during his tenure.
However, this time, the right head seems to be have been nailed and even Srinivasan’s own men -- Shivlal Yadav, Ravi Sawant and Chitrak Mitra – want him to abide by Supreme Court's observation.
Therefore, Srinivasan’s surely has to step down and not step aside this time around unlike last time when Jagmohan Dalmiya was appointed a proxy head of the board.
Furthermore, what stops the BCCI from coming under the Right to Inquiry (RTI) ambit?
When Srinivasan vociferously describes himself to be so clean, what stops him from accepting inquiries in form of RTI application.
When Ajay Maken, the Union Minister for Sports, during his tenure, had asked the BCCI to come under RTI domain Srinivasan responded saying “As far as RTI is concerned we are a private body. So it is not applicable to us. RTI isn't going to stop spot-fixing. Every domestic match is videographed.
We will intensify the education programme we have. The way to attack is to educate the players of how this works and action on players will only be taken after report comes."
And, now when IPL spot fixing and betting scandal is out and his son-in-law named in the report, we know what kind of “educational programs” he is running for the players in the country.
Undoubtedly, with non-cricketer turned cricket administrators such as Srinivasan, Rajiv Shukla, Arun Jaitley and Sharad Pawar are controlling the reigns of the game in the country, nothing much can be expected, when it comes at cleaning the dirt in the game.
However, wait till the time law takes it course fully. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
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