The news of Narayanswami Srinivasan being removed as chairman of the world body has come as a huge relief for millions of cricket fans. As the cement tycoon was no longer at the helm of the Indian cricket board, he couldn’t represent the country at the International Cricket Council (ICC). It thus brings to an end a highly controversial and acrimonious tenure of Srinivasan as the top boss of Indian and even world cricket.
He rose to the position of BCCI chief in 2011 and took absolute control of the game’s administration by virtue of calling the shots in Indian cricket, which basically powers the game across the globe through its finances.
Conflict of interest and tolerance towards improper conduct became the norm under his tenure. But once the betting and spot fixing scandal broke in the IPL, all hell broke loose.
– ICC: Srinivasan loses BCCI support as chairman
– Cricket Xtra: Nothing wrong with India wanting spin
– #360reviews: Death of a Gentleman – Cricket’s scandal
His son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was found guilty by India’s Supreme court of illegal betting while serving as team principal of the Chennai Super Kings. Srinivasan himself had to step aside as BCCI chief after the country’s top court found his position untenable due to his commercial investment in the Chennai franchise.
All along, Srinivasan had held on to power with all his might. Multiple pleas, from within the cricket board and outside, were met with the same response that he has not committed any crime so there’s no need to step down. It took the Supreme Court of India to throw the rule book at him and make him follow the regulations he had bypassed during his stint.
It was during his reign at the ICC that world cricket was virtually taken over by the game’s three heavyweights – India, Australia and England. The trio had restructured the ICC in such a way that it was they who called the shots when it came to international fixtures and bi-lateral series, ensuring the safety of their own revenue streams.
It came as no surprise when the decision to reduce the number of teams in the 2019 World Cup from 14 to 10 was finalised this year. Instead of taking cricket to new frontiers, the big three had consolidated their territories.
What an utter shambles the ICC has shown itself to be with Srinivasan removed as chairman by his own board. SORT YOURSELVES OUT
— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 9, 2015
But the situation is changing. Srinivasan’s ouster looks like the beginning of a positive change in international cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board has a new man in charge – Colin Graves – and it is trying to move beyond the Giles Clarke era which saw England join forces with India and Australia in a manner that threatened the very fabric of the game.
England are keen to send out the right signals. They are pushing for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics, something the previous bigwigs were staunchly against.
The India board too is hoping to polish its image, ensuring that there are no more cases such as Srinivasan’s. They relieved selector Roger Binny of his duties as his son Stuart is a regular member of the team. It is not a cure for all its ailments but at least it’s a start.
Even Australia are being led by a new face with David Peever taking over from Wally Edwards.
With Srinivasan gone, that last link to the painful past seems to now have been severed and world cricket can hope to make a fresh start where profit is not the only objective and where inclusion, transparency and development of the sport are once again given the importance they deserve.
