Suggests barring CSK and RR from IPL 7
New Delhi: In a move that is bound to shake up Indian cricket, the Supreme Court on Thursday proposed replacing BCCI President N Srinivasan with former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and barring his team Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from IPL 7 until it decides the betting and spot fixing scandal case.
The court, which will pass its order on Friday, has also sought keeping away any person associated with the Sinivasan-promoted India Cements, the owner of CSK, from being involved in the functioning of the BCCI.
The Supreme Court’s observations that will show the door for Srinivasan also came on a day when senior counsel Harish Salve attacked India captain MS Dhoni, accusing him of being “guilty of corrupt practice” by lying before the Mudgal Committee on the role of the BCCI President’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in CSK.
The statement of Dhoni, who is also the vice-president of India Cements, before the committee that Meiyappan had no role in the CSK was a “cover up” that amounted to a corrupt practice.
A two-judge bench comprising justices AK Patnaik and FM Ibrahim Kalifulla made the proposals when it took up the Mudgal Committtee’s report into the alleged betting and spot fixing during last year’s IPL.
“In the place of Srinivasan, we propose to appoint an experienced cricket player like Sunil Gavaskar to replace him and function as BCCI president,” the bench said.
The apex court, however, said that at this moment it was not removing anybody and the matches of IPL 7 will go on.
The bench suggested barring CSK and RR from this year’s IPL, slated to start on April 16 in Dubai, as their players and team officials have been suspected of involvement in the scandal by police and the three-member probe panel headed Justice Mudgal.
The bench also proposed passing an order barring India Cements officials from getting involved with the functioning of the BCCI after Salve, appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar, pointed out that many such officials were part of the board.
Trying to control the damage, the BCCI placed before the bench a copy of its proposal in which it assured the court that disciplinary action will be immediately taken on the basis of Mudgal Committee report.
It also said that it is in favour of further investigation into the scandal as proposed by the panel. The bench said it will take note of the proposal while passing the order.
Sawant had no direct answer on the proposal of the Supreme Court to replace Srinivasan by Gavaskar.
“There is a procedure in the BCCI Constitution regarding the vacancy of the president. Whatever the SC has proposed I don’t know whether it will fit with the BCCI Constitution or whether it (the SC order) will overwrite the Constitution of the BCCI,” he said.
Former captains Rahul Dravid, Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Anil Kumble said on the sidelines of a function in Bangalore that everybody will have to abide by the Supreme Court order.
“The Supreme Court is supreme and everybody will have to follow what it says. There is no other way,” Srikkanth said.
Kumble said whatever the Supreme Court orders, the Board and everybody will have to follow as law-abiding citizens.
“Beyond this, I can’t comment on a matter which is subjudice. But the situation is no different for a cricketer. It’s nothing new. Whatever is happening in cricket, we can see in the society also. Of course, we need to tackle this and clean up the game.”
Gavaskar said he will be “honoured” and “happy” to adhere to the directives of the highest court of the land.
“First and foremost, if the highest court suggests something, you have to do so but that has to be on record. I am currently contracted with BCCI as a commentator. But if Supreme Court wants me to do that, I will do it,” Gavaskar said.
Admitting that Indian cricket is at crossroads, administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya said that cricket’s glory could be brought back if they worked towards clearing the mess in the game.
“Paradise is not lost. If we can get together, we can bring back the glory of the IPL. We have to abide by the Supreme Court,” the Cricket Association of Bengal president said.
“SC has come up with suggestions for betterment of Indian cricket. It is evident that the Indian cricket is at crossroads.” (PTI)