The Supreme Court on Friday asked former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar to discharge the role of President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It also said Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals could participate in the tournament.
The order, delivered in a packed courtroom, dealt a blow to N Srinivasan, who has been asked to step aside as BCCI President till the probe into spot-fixing during last year’s IPL is completed. The Court directed Shivlal Yadav, the seniormost Vice-President of the Board, to also look after BCCI affairs. The Bench said Gavaskar will have to give up his commentary duties and directed the board to adequately compensate the veteran.
The order was given during a hearing on the Mudgal Committee report, which went into betting and spot-fixing allegations against CSK and Rajasthan Royals during IPL 6.
The Bench made it clear that no employee of India Cements (promoted by Srinivasan), except players and commentators, could be involved in BCCI activities.
It also said that it is for Gavaskar to decide whether the present Chief Executive Officer of IPL, Sundar Raman, would continue in his post in the wake of allegations that he was protecting Srinivasan.
The BCCI pleaded with the court to allow Srinivasan to hold the post of International Cricket Council Chairman from July. But the Bench refused to pass an order on this.
The BCCI also rejected allegations levelled against Indian captain MS Dhoni by counsel Harish Salve, who accused him of “covering up” Gurunath Meiyappan’s role.
‘Balanced’ order
Justice Mukul Mudgal, who headed the probe committee that investigated the IPL scandal, has described the Supreme Court’s interim order as “balanced” and in the “best interest of Indian cricket”.
“It balances the interest of the administration, interest of the players, team and Indian cricket and also the cricket-loving people of the county,” Mudgal said.