Manohar takes the hot seat, adapts
TONED DOWN Once a vocal critic of Srini, new BCCI chief seems to have changed
Exactly two years ago, Shashank Manohar minced no words in criticising the-then BCCI chief N Srinivasan following the IPL spot-fixing scandal.
Terming him an autocrat, Manohar had even demanded his resignation from the post after his son-in-law was arrested on charges of betting in IPL matches.
Manohar seemed to be a changed man after the assuming post of BCCI president for a second term on Sunday.
“As far as Srinivasan is concerned, I have no stand because if he attends the Board meeting, he will be dealt with as if he is any other member of the Board and whatever decision is to be taken will be taken in the meeting,” said Manohar in response to a query. So visible was the change that Manohar, who once never let an opportunity to attack Srinivasan pass him, heaped praises on his administrative skills, terming him one of the best Board secretaries.
“I can tell you with 100 per cent certainty that Srinivasan was an excellent secretary. He was better than many of the secretaries. I left the Board in 2011, and don’t know what happened in day-to-day work but I can say Srinivasan was the best secretary after (Jagmohan) Dalmiya.”
Manohar had also advocated the suspension of IPL 2014 and removal of its COO Sunder Raman in the past. He now needs time, to be precise two months, to comment in this regard. “As I told you, we need time as I have taken over the Board today. I was not involved with day-today activities for the past four years. So I am asking for two months time, which is not much when my tenure is for two years. You can then ask me about it if I fail.” Going a step further, the Vidarbha lawyer even termed the BCCI a closelyknit body with no one nursing
any grudges against anyone.
“The entire Board, when we discussed it informally, was united. All 30 units including the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (were united). All of us have to work together to build the image of the Board and we don’t fight among ourselves and we don’t have a vindictive attitude when we decide on issues.”
Manohar made it clear that Srinivasan’s continuation as ICC chief could only be endorsed by the general body at the annual general meeting.
He also attempted to steer clear of recent accusations wherein he was alleged to have exchanged mails with sacked IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. “I can’t even start a computer, forget about reading mail. I have never in my life read a mail from a computer,” he said.
Manohar remained noncommittal on the resumption of Indo-Pak cricketing ties, saying the decision involved not only the two Boards but also the governments.