BCCI dismisses accusations against junior staff member of inappropriate behaviour in WI as mistaken identity

A female hotel staff member in Antigua, the venue for India’s first Test against the West Indies from the 22nd to the 26th of August, had accused an Indian junior staff member of inappropriate conduct, it has been confirmed. However, the country’s governing body for cricket has dismissed the claims, stating it as a case as a mistaken identity and that the staff member concerned has been absolved of the allegations.

"It was found out to be a case of mistaken identity once an inquiry was done. The staff with whom the alleged misbehaviour happened was shown photographs of all the support staff members but she didn't identify any of them. Also the room number that was provided didn't belong to any member of the Indian contingent," an anonymous senior BCCI official told PTI, reported TOI.

However, in an email to the Committee of Administrators a couple of days ago by the then team manager Sunil Subramaniam, the 52-year-old had admitted guilt and acknowledged a staff member as being guilty. He seemed to suggest that the matter has been kept from reaching the outside world to ensure the team’s and the person concerned’s reputation remains intact.

“The concerned member is still very much a part of the Indian team. Investigation by the Hotel management, Antiguan Police, Roland Holder of Cricket West Indies and myself along with the team Security manager and logistics manager did confirm that it was indeed a member of the support staff. The matter was handled in such a manner that the team and more importantly the concerned member of the team was spared any embarrassment from any entity that would exploit it for obvious reasons. The hotel made a request that we internally take measures to correct such inappropriate behaviour,” he had written to the Supreme Court=-appointed committee.

Having now been replaced by Girish Dongre post the tour to the West Indies after complaints against him of misbehaviour by the Indian High Commission staff, Subramniam did not shy from criticizing the BCCI in his email.

“The inaction of the BCCI on a matter as grave as this is beyond belief,” he added.

However, he ended up sending a second email in which he retracted his initial statement, even though he insisted that the accused be talked to and asked to maintain behaviour in the future.

"It is never my intention to attack any individual personally, As regards the indiscretion of support staff mentioned, it would be best if he has a word spoken to on not to repeat such indiscretions in future,” he had written.