BCCI president Shashank Manohar asks for two months’ time to clean mess

Mumbai: Lawyer-turned-administrator Shashank Manohar was on Sunday elected unopposed as the BCCI president for a second time after a gap of four years and vowed to clean up the mess in the cricket board by announcing a slew of reforms to restore the credibility of the game.

The 58-year-old, who began his second stint as president after being elected to the post at the Special General Body meeting, said his top priority is to restore the battered image of the Board and sought two months' time to put the house in order.

The reforms announced by Manohar included the appointment of an ombudsman to deal with contentious issues like conflict of interest.

Laying down his roadmap for the Board, Manohar also announced several other important decisions which included central contracts of women cricketers, common auditor to monitor expenses of all the state units and putting BCCI's balance sheet on the Board website to promote transparency.

Among other issues, Manohar also rejected speculation that the change of guard in the BCCI would lead to hostility towards N Srinivasan, who is currently the ICC president.

"We are not working here with a vindictive attitude. The entire Board, all 30 members including the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (headed by Srinivasan who did not attend today's Special General Meeting) when we informally discussed, was united that all of us have to work together to build the image of this board and that we don't fight among ourselves and we don't have any vindictive attitude when we decide on matters," said Manohar.

"I can tell you Srinivasan was an excellent secretary, he was better than most of the secretaries I have come across in the Board. He was one of the best secretaries to have as I found out during my (2008-09 to 2010-11) tenure. I don't know what happened after I completed my term in 2011. I was not in touch. Srinivasan was by far the best secretary after Mr (Jagmohan) Dalmiya," he added.

Manohar, who was elected unopposed at the Board's Special General Meeting here, said he also wants to have discussions with central government authorities to find out whether an investigating agency can be attached to the BCCI.

The move has been planned as the BCCI does not have investigating powers on matters of corruption.

"BCCI has become a huge brand due to the love of the fans and the cricket loving population of this country. Confidence of the fans has been shaken due to certain unpleasant things that have happened. It is the duty of all the representatives of the Board to bring the Board back to its original reputation," Manohar told mediapersons during his first media interaction.

"I am asking you to give me two months' time, I have two years in office," he added.

While stressing that the BCCI would be more transparent than before, Manohar emphatically ruled out it will have to come under the Right To Information Act.

"Under Article 12 of the (Indian) Constitution, we are not a state, (but) our functions are akin to a state. That's why the Supreme Court has held that we are performing a public deed. We are a private body though performing a public deed and therefore each and every activity of the Board need not be disclosed to the whole world. As I said transparency means transparency in functioning of the Board."

"But we will not come under the RTI because law cannot apply to one institution. RTI is an Act. Under the Act to whom it applies is defined by two contingences. As the law exists, it applies only to state govertments, institutions which are controlled by centre or state governments or who has been substantially aided by the govt. We do not fall in either of these categories and RTI cannot be made applicable to us.

"There could be fans of filmstars who would want to know everything about filmstars. Does it mean RTI applies to filmstars becase we are fans, we spend money to watch movies? But if government amends the law, we have no difficulty (in accepting it). But we cannot be singled out and said it should be applied to the Board."

Asked about reports in the media that he was in touch through e-mail exchanges with debarred former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, Manohar said he was not even conversant about how to start a computer.

"As far as Lalit Modi is concerned, I may have relations with hundreds of people, but that's not going to affect my functioning in this board. Tomorrow, if I am informally meeting someone, here I am taking the worst case scenario and I am not admitting anything, or if I have dinner with someone, how is it going to affect the board's functioning.

"If that is affecting my functioning in the Board then you have every right to criticise me. And I can assure you the day it affects my functiong in the Board, I will step down.

"If I send a mail to the Queen of England, does that mean I am on friendly terms with the Queen? Or If I send a mail to US president" He does not even know me. I will tell you one more fact, I can't even start a computer let alone read a mail (on it)."

On the option before the BCCI of terminating the two suspended IPL franchises - Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - Manohar asked for time to study the whole issue.

"It is hardly 25 minutes back that I took over (as President) and you can't expect me to look into all the board's records. At least give me two months' time. There are a lot many issues to be addressed. After two months, you can ask me any question."

But he insisted that next year's IPL will take place.

"It would happen," he said to a pointed question. He also supported all the facets of DRS except it being used to decide on leg-before the wicket decision given by the on-field umpire.

"I am agreeable to everything except the leg-before decision because you are substituting the opinion of the third umpire in place of the main umpire while even the camera angle can make a diference with regard to the angle of the delivery. On all other things, I am agreebale to DRS. This I have stated at the ICC meetings since 2010."

On resumption of Indo-Pak cricket contests, Manohar said it was not only related to the two cricket boards but also depends on the two countries' governments.

"India-Pakistan series is not only between two Boards but both the countries' governments are involved. We have to discuss among ourselves before taking a final decision."