Focus on Kundra in BCCI meeting

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The emergent working committee meeting of the Board on Control for Cricket in India here on Monday assumes great significance for beleaguered IPL side Rajasthan Royals and their co-owner Raj Kundra whose future will be the focus of attention in the first get together of the body after Jagmohan Dalmiya took over as the interim president.
Sources indicated that the Royals may escape the axe as the board is likely to go the same way as they did with Chennai Super Kings, whose team principal Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for alleged betting earlier. “The BCCI will conduct an internal inquiry on Kundra and like Gurunath he will be also suspended till the inquiry is completed. He won’t be involved in any cricketing activities. Two retired judges hold an inquiry on Kundra too and will submit their report to BCCI,” a top official in the board said on Sunday.
Although both CSK and RR face possible termination from the league as the activities of both Meiyappan and Kundra, if proved, are in contravention to the IPL guidelines but the board seems to be keen on both participating in the Champions League T20. “There are a couple of things at stake if they ban the teams. One is that there is Champions League in September where CSK and RR will participate. Also, a major part of the money from the central revenue pool is yet to be distributed,” another official was quoted as saying.
However, Punjab Cricket Association president I. S. Bindra, who will also be participating in the meeting, has advocated strict action against the two franchisees. “Both CSK and RR should be suspended pending an independent and fair probe, not a fixed probe,” he tweeted.
The meeting will also take up issues like the ratification of the appointment of Sanjay Patel as the new secretary. Patel has replaced Sanjay Jagdale, who quit the post in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal.
The meeting is also likely to discuss the appointment of a new treasurer. The post has been lying vacant after Ajay Shirke became the first board official to quit following the spot-fixing scandal. Karnataka State Cricket Association treasurer T. Venkatesh was a likely candidate till the clause of his not having attended at least two annual general meetings of the Board went against him.
BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit chief Ravi Sawani’s report on the spot-fixing scandal involving the Royals trio is also expected to be tabled at the meeting.