All signs point to interim chief for BCCI

he BCCI could have an interim president after the emergency working committee meeting of the Board here on Sunday.

There were indications on Saturday that BCCI president N. Srinivasan would step down from his post 'temporarily', until the three-member inquiry panel, probing the role of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in alleged betting, and the role of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, comes up with its findings.

FRONT-RUNNER

BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley seems to be the front-runner, the candidate acceptable to everyone. Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar also appears to be in the fray.

Srinivasan, it is understood, has made it clear that he should be reinstated once his name is cleared by the investigative panel which will have two retired High Court judges as independent members.

There was also talk of Srinivasan wanting to appoint the new BCCI secretary and treasurer before stepping down and also remain the Board's representative in the ICC, but these reports could not be confirmed.

The working committee comprises five permanent Test centres, associations that have held Test matches over the last two years, an association from each of the five zones, the BCCI office-bearers and the five Board vice-presidents.

However, the working committee does not have the powers to force Srinivasan out. Only a three-fourths majority of a special general meeting can do that.

MORE STRESS

The resignations of Board secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke on Friday had put the BCCI, already under immense pressure following the spot-fixing and betting scandals, under even greater stress. Then, on Saturday night, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla too quit his post. The BCCI came under intense media scrutiny on Friday after the Mumbai Police claimed it had transcripts of Meiyappan telling actor Vindoo Dara Singh that the ICC had warned him about the company he was keeping. This forced the BCCI to advance the meeting, scheduled for June 8, to Sunday.

It is also likely that BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur could take over as secretary following Jagdale's departure.

FOR THE SAKE OF PROBITY

Meanwhile, former BCCI president A.C. Muthiah, said in a release, "As the past president of the BCCI and a person interested in the purity of the game of cricket, I am deeply pained and disturbed by the recent developments relating to spot-fixing and betting in IPL matches. There is no other option for Mr. N. Srinivasan than to resign from the post of the BCCI president in order to maintain probity in public life."

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