10.25 am: The sealed envelope
BCCI gives its proposal before SC assuring it of initiating disciplinary proceedings on the basis of recommendations of Mudgal committee report.
10.25 am: Cricket deserves far better…
Mike Haysman makes a powerful statement not just against Srinivasan but also against the England and Australia cricket boards.
“We all know that greed is one of the evils of the world and what is happening regarding cricket at the moment is a microcosm of exactly that. The game is sadly losing serious credibility at an alarming rate. It is astounding to read what is happening in India at the moment. It is equally astonishing to hear the deafening silence from two members of the very recently formed comfy cricket cabal who were going to rule the cricketing world. The Supreme Court of India has firmly laid its cards on the table and under-fire BCCI president N Srinivasan is considering his options. Really? The ECB and Cricket Australia, who both enthusiastically leapt into bed with this dubious man after months of immoral clandestine planning, have said absolutely nothing in response to his current highly embarrassing situation.”
Read the full piece HERE
09.35 am: Srinivasan’s cover-up is like the state-sponsored doping in East Germany
Lakit Modi has made a statement on his blog:
“The entire cover up by the BCCI top honcho to save his son-in-law and the degree to which Mr Srinivas has let it spread forces me to compare it to the state-sponsored mandatory doping in East Germany.”
“Given the context and the current chain of events, I reckon it’s only right that until the faith of the people in the integrity of the game is restored, the IPL tournament for the year 2014 should be suspended. Only once we have rid ourselves of the scourge that is “fixing” of any kind should we continue. Remember that it is the intense emotional engagement of the fan that compliments the technical brilliance of the cricketer and that should never be interrupted or scarred with the corrupt practices of people in charge or those involved.”
“Unfortunately the BCCI had one full year – 365 days to gear up into some action, but TV deals and financial control of the sport overtook their faculties. A lot of players, too, have felt the same way especially given the uncertainty in the air, but have failed to voice their opinions for fear of a fierce backlash from the BCCI boss.”
Read the full statement HERE
09.26 am: ‘Don’t disturb me, I am going to pray’
Early morning, Srinivasan made his visit to the temple with the TV crews in tow. He refused to comment on what his course of action will be today, only saying: ‘Don’t disturb me, I am going to pray.’
09.02 am: Srinivasan won’t step down, he’ll just step aside
According to reports on Headline Today, BCCI president won’t step down, he’ll just step aside. Srinivasan’s argument so far has been that the Supreme Court has not issued a notice against him so there is no need for him to quit. He is, however, likely to step aside until another probe into IPL spot-fixing is completed.
Either which way, we will have an answer today. On March 25, the Supreme Court had observed that Srinivasan needs to step down to ensure a fair probe into the IPL scandal.
17.07 pm: IPL 2014 should be suspended
Former BCCI Pres Shashank Manohar, told CNN-IBN, IPL 2014 should be suspended & that people have lost faith in the tournament.
- IPL 2014 should be suspended to restore integrity of the game and Srinivasan needs to step down. No probe can be conducted unless Srinivasan steps down.”
- “All IPL games must be investigated to initiate a clean-up.”
- “Public at large has lost faith in the IPL.”
- “I had said long back, when the scandal broke, that all IPL matches should be investigated.I feel that a thorough probe needs to be done by CBI as the canvas of the activities extends throughout the country.”
- “Many years back,a conscious decision was taken by the BCCI to abstain from matches in the Middle East in view of certain information regarding rampant betting and match fixing.As far as I know , that decision has not been revoked… the decision to shift IPL matches to the Middle East will further tarnish the already murky waters surrounding the tournament.”
- “The Board Members should remind themselves that money/profits is neither the aim nor the objective of the Board.”
Read the full report HERE
12.01 pm: Srinivasan unlikely to to step down without court order
It looks like N Srinivasan will not be stepping down from the BCCI voluntarily. Shivlal Yadav, a BCCI vice-president, told NDTV that the BCCI will wait for a court order before deciding what to do next.
The court had given Srinivasan two days to decide whether or not he would stay on as president in light of the observation that they found his clinging to power “nauseating”. If he chose not to go, they said they would be forced to pass an order removing when they hear the case again on Thursday.
It seems the BCCI is willing to let that state of affairs come to pass.
11.20 am: BCCI doesn’t want a Subrata Roy situation
According to a story on ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI is wary of provoking the Supreme Court and ending up in a situation like that of Sahara supreme Subrata Roy. There is also concerned that the Court could order appoint an interim administrator to run the board if Srinivasan does not voluntarily step down, citing a precedent from 2004 when Madras High Court appointed Judge S Mohan to oversee the board while Sharad Pawar and Jagmohan Dalmiya were battling for the presidency.
“We would like to avoid a situation like in 2004, so it is possible that the president might act accordingly in the best interest of Indian cricket,” a BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo.
There is still no word from Srinivasan on whether or not he will step down of his own accord.
10.20 am: False alarm from CNN-IBN
CNN-IBN originally reported that Srinivasan said no one could force him to step down as he had done nothing wrong but have since removed the story from their website.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pass a ruling on the BCCI and Srinivasan’s presidency tomorrow if Srinivasan does not step down.
– end of updates for 25 March –
8.30 pm: Credibility of the BCCI has sunk even further
Ajay Shirke, the former BCCI treasurer, told Headlines Today that the Supreme Court’s observation on N Srinivasan was a serious blow to the credibility of the BCCI. Shirke had resigned last year after being put on the BCCI committee that was originally asked to probe the allegations against Gurunath Meiyappan, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals last year after Srinivasan had stepped aside.
Shirke said he resigned for his own moral reasons and felt said the issue should have been handled in a much better way at that time and never come to this point.
“Unless this rot is cleaned up, the very foundation of BCCI might be in for a major shake-up,” he said.
6.30 pm: Big task to win back faith of fans, says Lalit Modi
Lalit Modi is naturally thrilled that the Supreme Court has asked his nemesis N Srinivasan to step down but he also thinks it will take some serious effort to rebuild cricket’s credibility.
4.50 pm: I would have stepped down had I been in Srinivasan’s position: Manohar
Former BCCI president, Shashank Manohar has told Times Now that the BCCI is bigger than any one individual and that had he been in Srinivasan’s position, he would have resigned.
Srinivasan was the board secretary while Manohar was president. It was during their tenure that Lalit Modi was removed as IPL chairman and a disciplinary committee investigation instituted that ultimately resulted in a life ban from cricket for Modi.
4.00 pm: The BCCI can’t do an investigation on its own
A report in the Hindu has more damning quotes from the Supreme Court judges about N Srinivasan and the BCCI.
Perhaps, most importantly, the Court thinks that an outside agency should investigate the IPL and not the board.
“Though there is no definite finding in the report in the sealed cover, the allegations are so serious it require further investigation, which the BCCI can’t do on its own and it has to be done by an outside agency,” Justice Patnaik said. That’s why we are saying that Mr. Srinivasan must step down for a fair probe.”
“We want to protect the institution of BCCI….. It betting happened because people who are in control of BCCI are not taking any action.”
According to the Hindu, when the board’s legal counsel said the BCCI had earned an international reputation, Justice Patnaik responded by saying why doesn’t Srinivsan prove it by stepping down and allowing an impartial probe.
“The problem is you BCCI don’t have confidence in the two judges but you have confidence in your man Mr. Srinivasan,” Justice Patnaik said. “It is better if he goes on his own. You take instructions from him whether he will step down. We will hear the matter on Thursday.”
3.30 pm: ICC refuses comment on Srinivasan’s situation
Saying it is an internal matter of the BCCI, an ICC spokesperson told AFP that it “has no comment to offer at this stage”.
Srinivasan led a significant restructuring of the ICC just last month that greatly increased the BCCI’s share of revenue from world events. Srinivasan is also set to take over as the sport’s governing body’s first chairman in July.
3.10 pm: BCCI still in discussion with lawyers
Ravi Savant, the BCCI vice-president, told Firstpost that president N Srinivasan is still in discussion with the board’s lawyers and the rest of the office bearers are still waiting to hear of his decision.
While the board will have to appoint a temporary president should Srinivasan choose to step down, Savant said no discussions had yet taken place among the other office bearers about who might replace him.
Savant also added that if there is to be an impartial inquiry into the IPL, then Srinivasan “should keep himself away” until the investigation is complete.
2.30 pm: Pressure mounts on Srini as former players ask him to resign
1983 World Cup winner Mohinder Amarnath: “In the interest of the game, one should step aside and let the enquiry go on. As a lover of the game, he should step down. He should respect the law and he should honour what Supreme Court has suggested. Let’s see how it goes.”
Bishan Singh Bedi took to twitter to express his opinion. “BCCI touches lowest low-thx SC’ nudge ‘Srini must step dn’ & out of all matters crkting!What happens2all his cronies in bcci & icc?!Hail SC!.”
BCCI Vice President Shivlal Yadav and former Rajasthan Cricket Association chief Kishore Rungta also criticised Srinivasan.
Click here to read the full report.
1:00 pm: BCCI official says Srinivasan must go, but voluntarily
Ravi Sawant, the Vice President of BCCI also told CNN-IBN that they will abide by the Supreme Court’s order.
But they wouldn’t tell Srinivasan to do it, he will do it himself, the official said.
“Since the Supreme Court has said it there’s no question of not following it,” he said.
“If the Supreme Court has said he must step down then he must,” Sawant said.
He pointed out that the apex court has given Srinivasan two days to resign. Sawant offered no opinion on who could replace Srinivasan in the event of him quitting.
12:55 pm: BCCI says it will abide by SC decision
BCCI vice president Shivlal Yadav has said that the board has to abide by the Supreme Court’s order, reports Times Now.
However, what remains unclear is when they will abide by it.
12:20 pm: Rajeev Shukla joins Srinivasan in staying mum
He’s rarely short of words on any subject but former IPL commissioner Rajeev Shukla chose to stay mum over the Supreme Court’s verdict on N Srinivasan. Here’s what happened when ANI attempted to get a reaction from him:
12:05 pm: Bishan Singh Bedi welcomes SC order on Srinivasan
12:00 pm: Amarnath says Srinivasan must step down
“If the Supreme Court says Srinivasan must step down, he must step down. There are no two ways about it,” former great Mohinder Amarnath said.
He’s not the only one saying that presently. But will Srinivasan relent?
11:45 pm: SC tells Srinivasan to step down, Srinivasan says he hasn’t read it
The Supreme Court held its second hearing on the Justice Mudgal Committee report on IPL spot-fixing and betting today and came up with some particularly damning observations about the way cricket is being run in the country. The sole focus of these observations seemed to be the role of BCCI president N Srinivasan.
“Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair” If you don’t step down, then we will pass the order,” the SC observed. “If you truly want to save the game, if you truly want to save cricket, you have to look at the corruption within the BCCI and step down.”
PTI
“Until Srinivasan steps down, we will not listen to anything you have to say,” the SC reportedly told BCCI lawyers.
The SC also said: “The Mudgal report in sealed envelope contains very, very serious allegations and unless the BCCI President steps down, no fair probe can be conducted.”
SC calls the situation with the IPL probe ‘nauseating’ and has adjourned the case to March 27. They also asked the BCCI what has to be done with the IPL Probe report.
Srinivasan in reply has said: “I don’t want to say anything. I have not read it.”
BCCI vs SC Live: Board makes proposal before Apex court
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