Srinivasan given one-year extension as BCCI chief

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India yesterday reelected Narainswamy Srinivasan as president for another year despite a Supreme Court order restraining him from assuming power immediately.

Srinivasan, whose position at the helm of Indian cricket has been criticised because of the alleged involvement of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in a spot-fixing scandal during this year’s Indian Premier League, was declared elected unopposed after a meeting in Chennai.

The Supreme Court is deciding on whether a two-member probe panel of the BCCI was constituted with the aim of helping Meiyappan, as claimed in a petition by the regional Cricket Association of Bihar.

The court, which allowed BCCI to go ahead with the elections but told Srinivasan not to take charge until the court gives its approval, will resume the hearing today.

Meiyappan, the team principal of the Chennai Super Kings, who are owned by India Cements company where Srinivasan is the managing director, has been charged by Indian police on several counts including cheating and being in touch with illegal bookmakers.

Meiyappan was jailed for two weeks before securing bail, but the BCCI cleared him after a probe by an internal panel. The Bombay High Court declared the panel “illegal and unconstitutional” but did not direct the board to re-constitute it.

The spot-fixing controversy arose in May after the arrest of Rajasthan Royals players Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan by Delhi Police, who said they conceded more than a specified number of runs per over in return for money from illegal bookies. All three are out on bail.