BCCI, Srinivasan blasted by Supreme Court for conflict of interest

The Supreme Court on Monday blasted Board of Control for Cricket in India president-in-exile N Srinivasan for conflict of interest, asking how somebody within the sports body is also holding a franchise in the Indian Premier League or IPL.

The court took a hard stance on the BCCI’s appeal, suggesting Srinivasan should refrain from trying to “liquidate” the game in the country and that the sport is far bigger than any individual. “This game is like religion to the common man on the street who has no financial stakes,” the court said.

The court continued taking a dig at Srinivasan. “The BCCI must hold the glory of the game. The benefit of the doubt should go in favour of the game, not to the individual. You have to be above all suspicion.

“Srinivasan is owner of a team whose official [referring to Gurunath Meiyappan] is found guilty of betting. You will have to address the question of conflict of interest. You have to take action against those named [13 people named by the Mudgal team]. You can’t make a distinction between the BCCI and IPL. The IPL is a by-product of the BCCI. You want to sit over the liquidation of the game,” the court said.

International Cricket Council chairman Srinivasan, who is seeking re-election as BCCI president, needs an approval of the Supreme Court to contest. A meeting of the governing council of the BCCI is scheduled on December 17.

The Mudgal Committee, which submitted its report on November 17, had indicted Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals franchise co-owner Raj Kundra of betting and confirmed their role in their teams but cleared Srinivasan of match fixing and scuttling the probe.