The legal system has finally caught up with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan with the Supreme Court of the country asking him to step down.
The court feels his presence is hindering a free and fair probe into the Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting scandal.
It is by far the severest indictment of the functioning of the BCCI chief which he cannot take lightly as the apex court has been quite effective in bringing high-flying individuals involved in corruption to book with stern judgments.
Ever since Gurunath Meiyappan’s role in betting on IPL games came to light it was clear that Srinivasan will have to face the consequences. Because, Meiyappan was not only his son-in-law but also a key member of the Chennai Super Kings management team.
What angered cricket fans and the public in general was the blatant manner in which Srinivasan managed to get re-elected as BCCI chief despite a storm swirling around him.
While the BCCI were quick to pass strictures and slap life-bans on erring cricketers, they were found pussy-footing against their own officials thanks to Srinivasan’s manoeuvres.
The BCCI-appointed probe panel became a laughing stock as they cleared all officials, including Meiyappan and Srinivasan, of any wrong doing.
Eventually, the Supreme Court had to step in and appoint an independent panel to probe the murky dealings and it came with a damning verdict against the officials. But a section of the report is not in the public domain yet as it reportedly contains the name of a current Indian player and it has been submitted to the court in a sealed envelope.
The Supreme Court’s decision is welcome and its strong language – “His staying on is nauseating for cricket” – indicates it means business.
It could be the first step towards restoring the credibility of the IPL and the BCCI to a certain extent.
As the court noted, Srinivasan’s presence has not helped in clearing the air and the time for him to make an exit had lapsed long ago.
The IPL is a fantastic event which every current international cricketer loves to be part of but since its inception in 2008 it has also thrown up a steady dose of controversies involving players and officials alike.
However, last season was the worst as it resulted in two players, including a Test cricketer S Sreesanth, being banned for life and the BCCI chief coming under scrutiny.
The IPL is heading to the UAE next month where the International Cricket Council is headquartered and a strong message needs to be sent that corrective measures have been put in place.
The court’s decision should address that to a large extent. The time is also ripe for the remaining BCCI officials to step up and ensure a clean administration.
They can begin by asking Srinivasan to quit and then put strong systems in place for good governance.
Mind you, the conduct of the BCCI is also critical for world cricket as it generates the highest revenue among all cricket-playing nations.
It is no use being the richest board if it has shades of grey.
