The Board of Control for Cricket in India has turned into a forum where only a few voices are heard, former Board president and Punjab Cricket Association chief Inderjit Singh Bindra said on Tuesday.
Bindra, who has taken to writing a widely-followed post, pointed out that things had got to this pass as the BCCI was attracting people for all the wrong reasons, clearly referring to the Board’s meeting in Chennai two weeks ago where incumbent president N. Srinivasan “stepped aside” with former chief Jagmohan Dalmiya taking over virtually without a murmur of protest.
“Now, only two or three people speak in the Board and the rest endorse their point of view with their stark silence” said Bindra. “Earlier the Board attracted people for the love of the game because there was no money. Money, no doubt, is a double edged sword. If used properly it can be a source of tremendous good and if used for winning wars and perpetuating one’s hegemony it has proven to be a ruthless tyrant,” in a pointed reference to happenings that have rocked Indian cricket in the wake of the latest IPL season.
Bindra said that given the degree of ad-hocism that had come into the BCCI in the wake of recent events, he would not be surprised to see Srinivasan attending the International Cricket Council’s annual conference in London despite his having to step aside on conflict of interest issues.
“The new Interim Board President has nothing to do with the day to day working under the Board’s constitution. There is no post of interim President and it was only made so that the elected could preside over the last meeting of the Working Committee meeting on June 10.
“Unfortunately, beyond that it is my opinion that the Interim Board President has no other function or role... It will not surprise me if the moment the media and the public shift focus on some other issue, the Board President who has stepped aside instead of stepping down will suddenly step back on to the podium.
“As it is, even today he is exercising all the powers. The probe panel is most certainly his creation. The new Secretary and the Treasurer, despite what has been stated in the media release, have been appointed by him, and for all you know, he may land up at the Annual Conference of the ICC in London.”
Bindra lashed out at Srinivasan appointing his “personal friend” Raghu Raman as the BCCI’s lawyer. “Earlier, there had been an appointment to create a independent legal system. But when Mr N. Srinivasan took over, the role of ombudsman and legal counselling is being conducted by Raghu Raman, his personal friend. I am told he is being paid lakhs for attending board meetings and his legal fees run into crores,” Bindra said.
The PCA president, who has become virtually the only voice of dissent within the BCCI, said Dalmiya was wrong in accepting what he called an “illegitimate stop-gap” arrangement regarding Srinivasan.
.”... Mr Interim Board President has not done justice to the high offices he had held before namely President BCCI and President ICC by accepting an illegitimate stop-gap arrangement.”
The PCA boss reiterated his stand on the conflict of interest issue, saying, “Ownership of an IPL team and influencing decision making in the Governing Council is a concrete and classic example of conflict of interest.
“... Administrators have to lead by example by baring themselves to face probity. Only then would (they) have the moral courage to act against errant players.”