Asserting that the prestige of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is paramount, Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner and Governing Council Chairman Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday reiterated that cricket board's chief N. Srinivasan should 'stay away' from the probe till the three-member panel completes its investigation of the spot-fixing scandal.
"What I am saying is discussion amongst various BCCI members is already going on. I had a long discussion with Arun Jaitley in the morning, and what we are saying is, that the image of the board is paramount for us, the credibility of the board is supreme for us and the image of cricket is very important to us. So, whatever we will do, we will do in the best interest of the board, as well as Indian cricket," he told mediapersons here.
"We are saying as a suggestion that till the pendency of inquiry, when the commission is probing it, he (Srinivasan) should disassociate himself from the procedure; as earlier also, it was discussed that he should disassociate, I and Mr. Jaitley had suggested (this to) him. Now, he will have to take a decision," he added.
Shukla further said the report of the three-member inquiry commission probing the scandal should be binding on the BCCI for implementation.
"And now, the inquiry commission has been constituted. Earlier, there was a suggestion that there should be two members from the board and one retired judge in the inquiry commission, but we suggested that there should be two judges. So, the number of outsiders should be more than the members of BCCI. So, now it is a three-member (inquiry) commission comprising of two judges and one BCCI member," said Shukla.
"And what we are suggesting, and, we are of the view that the recommendation of this commission should be binding on BCCI for implementation," he added.
Shukla also downplayed the Sports Ministry's observation that the BCCI President should step down on moral grounds, saying different opinions are coming to the fore on this issue.
Shukla, who met BCCI board and disciplinary committee member Arun Jaitley at his residence here earlier in the day, said Srinivasan has been advised to stay away while the probe is on.
"He is an elected President. We all, including Jaitleyji, are of the opinion and we have told him also that he should keep a distance from the procedure during the probe. Ultimately, it is for him to take a decision on it," Shukla told mediapersons outside Jaitley's residence."We are concerned about the image of the board. He says that he is not at fault, then for what is he being punished. It is his (personal) opinion," he added.
Shukla further said a fair and an independent probe must be conducted into the entire spot-fixing scandal.
. We want a fair probe into it and whoever is found guilty should be given harsh punishment, nobody should be spared," he said.
The BCCI has announced that a three-member inquiry commission will investigate spot-fixing and betting allegations against arrested players and also Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who has been arrested by the police over charges of betting in IPL matches.
The panel consists of two retired judges - Justice T. Jayaram Chouta and Justice R. Balasubramanian and BCCI Secretary Sanjay Jagdale.
Top politicians associated with the BCCI have so far appeared to be divided over Srinivasan's fate.
BCCI disciplinary committee member Jyotiraditya Scindia yesterday became the first BCCI office-bearer to openly call for Srinivasan's resignation, saying that propriety demanded that he should step down.
Union Minister and another senior board functionary Farooq Abdullah on the other hand backed the under-fire president, saying there was no reason for him to quit.
The clamour for the ouster of Srinivasan as the BCCI President has been growing for the last few days. Srinivasan has so far, however, maintained that these accusations are no reason for him to quit.
