Won’t ask Mahendra Singh Dhoni to quit, says Srinivasan
He will not ask indian captain MSD to step down from his post at India cements
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-12-02 03:46 GMT
CHENNAI: The Supreme Court had observed that M.S. Dhoni’s “dual role” as vice-president of India Cements and skipper of Indian team was a “concern”. N. Srinivasan, vice-chairman and managing directors of the cement company, is however defiant on the issue.
“Why should I?” Srinivasan shot back when queried whether he would ask Dhoni to step down from his post in India Cements. The ICC chairman, who exchanged documents with MRF to mark the tyre major’s association with the 2015 World Cup, refused to comment on the IPL spot-fixing scandal saying “the matter is in the court and he cannot speak on this.”
Bombarded with questions on the controversies surrounding Indian cricket, Srinivasan said: “I don’t feel any negativity and Indian cricket hasn’t taken a hit. I am not able to share your sentiment.”
Srinivasan said World Cup is the pinnacle of cricket achievements and hoped that India retains the trophy. “Everyone from India would like that to happen. The World Cup has grown from a small beginning in 1975 to where it is today. India had the luck and skill to win it on two occasions.
“India are proud holders of the trophy now. It seems only yesterday that Dhoni hit that six to lift the trophy in 2011. I think it’s going to be a competitive tournament with 49 matches in 14 venues. But as we all know, cricket is a glorious game of uncertainties. May the best team win,” he added.
BCCI doctored documents: Aditya Verma
Aditya Verma, petitioner in the IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal case, believes the documents the BCCI submitted at the Supreme Court on Monday were “manufactured.”
“Being a petitioner, I cannot understand why the BCCI and N. Srinivasan are objecting on the matters that have been found out. I believe all the documents that BCCI have submitted today, I can say confidently that, were manufactured,” Verma said on a news channel.
The apex court has adjourned the hearing till Monday and Verma said the Supreme Court is likely to deliver its verdict next Tuesday. “The court will hear the matter on Monday and Tuesday and may also give the decision,” he added.
Verma said he would push for the Mudgal report to be made public. “The court was also being tried to influence on the name of a current central minister. The court objected it and said ‘why are you trying to influence through a central minister?’. Mudgal committee has given its report, then why is BCCI objecting? Why is BCCI not making the tainted officials and cricketers’ name public?,” he asked.
“The cricket governing body in the country is trying to save the players, officials and Srinivasan. Those who bring shame to cricket wouldn’t be spared. The court will clean up the game and I hope SC will emerge the winner, as the ‘Man of the Match.’”
‘Others too have conflicts of Interest’:
When Nalini Chidambaram, senior counsel for the Cricket Association of Bihar, alleged that N. Srinivasan was wearing several hats as BCCI chief, Chennai Super Kings owner and India Cements promoter his lawyer Kapil Sibal said it was not unusual.
“Even players and umpires had donned several roles in the past. Vijay Mallya was administrator of the Karnataka Cricket Association, as well as the owner of Kingfisher, which played a role in IPL. Players like Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri also acted as administrators and commentators, and got remuneration too,” said Sibal, representing Srinivasan.