Srinivasan defends his appointment

On the day he was formally endorsed as the International Cricket Council’s inaugural chairman, Narayanaswami Srinivasan staunchly defended himself against claims he should not take up the role while allegations against him made him in India remain unresolved.

Srinivasan was yesterday confirmed in the newly created role after the ICC’s 52-member full council voted to alter the organisation’s constitution which allows for sweeping changes to the way that cricket will be administered worldwide.

While Srinivasan pledged to act in cricket’s global interests and foresaw that the move towards merit-based promotion and demotion from the current 10-nation Test ranks would ensure increased competition and therefore greater spectator interest, he also defended his appointment.

Critics have pointed to the fact that the Supreme Court of India suspended him from fulfilling his duties as President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India while unspecified allegations made against him were investigated as a reason why he should not take up the role of ICC chair.

But Srinivasan told a media conference in Melbourne shortly after his appointment was ratified that he stood down from his position with the BCCI at his own, rather than the Court’s behest, and that he has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.

The “unsubstantiated, unverified allegations” made against him were contained in a sealed envelope handed to the three-man panel headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Mukul Mudgal that was appointed by the Court to investigate allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League.

One of two teams being investigated as part of the probe into illegal betting and match-fixing in the 2013 IPL are the Chennai Super Kings, a franchise which is owned by India Cements of which Srinivasan is managing director.

Even though he is currently not acting in his role as President of the BCCI, Srinivasan remains that Board’s choice to represent it at ICC level and, as such, to take up the position of inaugural chairman which it was decided would be by the BCCI’s representative at the outset.

“The Mudgal committee gave a report that didn’t involve me but they were given a sealed envelope in which they said there were some unsubstantiated, unverified allegations made by some people which the committee is looking into,” Srinivasan said.

“I said I would step aside (from the BCCI) during that period.

“As far as I’m concerned I have done nothing wrong.

“There’s no wrongdoing on my part and therefore my conscience is very clear that there’s no taint on me.

“And whatever investigation that there is will take its course and reports will come out.”

Srinivasan also distanced himself from claims he has been drawn into the investigation of the IPL by dint of the fact his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, identified as a Chennai Super Kings team official, has been charged with betting and passing on information to illegal bookmakers.

Srinivasan said his son-in-law’s matter was an entirely separate issue and it was Meiyappan’s responsibility to defend himself against the allegations when the charges are brought.

In the meantime, Srinivasan believes there is no reason why he should not take up the role of ICC chairman as formalised at today’s annual conference.

“I think you have to wait until everything is clear,” he told reporters.

“At the end of the day if nothing is proved I think all this comment will have been unfair.”