I was forced to quit, says outgoing BCCI chief Shashank Manohar

Mumbai: The outgoing BCCI chief Shashank Manohar says he has been “forced” to resign. The veteran administrator, who had vowed to clean Indian cricket in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, had on Tuesday resigned from the post barely seven months into his tenure and is all set to become the first independent ICC Chairman.

The 58-year-old Manohar leaves the BCCI at a time when it is resisting the sweeping reforms recommended by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha panel.

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Speaking exclusively over his wife Varsha’s mobile from Mahabaleshwar, where he is to enjoy his vacation for another week or so, he said, “I could not work in the present scenario. I don’t want to name anyone but can say I have been forced to resign.”

Asked whether the Supreme Court appointee Lodha committee’s recommendations made his task difficult, Mr Manohar said, “I don’t want to say more except that I wanted to run the organisation (BCCI) on my terms  and conditions. I didn’t want my image to be spoilt. I didn’t wish to run the board with others’ influence.”

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Is he all set to continue with the ICC as their chairman? “Who says so? You are asking the hypothetical question. There is a nomination process at the ICC and the process is not yet over. The next ICC chairman can be at the mercy of others’ nomination. There will be a secret voting.”

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Mr Manohar didn’t answer the question: “What if someone is nominated by the fellow directors but is against the wish of the person or of the nominated person is not willing to take up the assignment?