N Srinivasan : Shashank Manohar took advantage of the BCCI
Former BCCI President N Srinivasan has blasted Shashank Manohar, the ICC Chairman, for deserting the board when the Lodha Committee recommendations were imposed upon them by the Supreme Court. He has also thrown his full weight behind the BCCI on any stance they decide to take on the Lodha issue.
The BCCI has had a rough time of late. The Lodha committee's recommendations have been forced on them, while ex-BCCI President and current ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar has decided against serving their interests at the international body. In such a time of crisis, the Indian Board and its members, who fell out with N Srinivasan and supported Manohar as the president in 2015, have once again turned towards the recently re-elected President of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for help.
Asked to provide his views about Manohar resigning from his post as the BCCI President after the Lodha Committee's recommendations were forced upon them, he said, “The BCCI members, including the office-bearers, have expressed their opinion on Shashank. Yes, I believe he took advantage of the BCCI.”
“It is true that the president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke met me on separate occasions when they were in Chennai and we had discussions on various issues pertaining to cricket. During the discussions I have said that as far as TNCA is concerned, the association will support BCCI in every way. It is the history in BCCI that there can be elections and contests, but when the dust settles down, members close ranks. In that tradition, TNCA will also function as a supporting pillar,” Srinivasan told TOI in an exclusive interview.
A lot of reports suggested that the BCCI's top brass wants Srinivasan back as the BCCI's representative at the ICC. However, Srinivasan has refused to confirm these reports. He said, “I am unable to answer that because I have not had such conversations... I have maintained that having led the BCCI once I will always be available - I believe in cricket and BCCI is a good organization.”
When asked whether the BCCI can rely on him to guide them during such difficult times, he said, “The present BCCI officials - the president and the secretary - are experienced people and I believe they should have their space. It is important that former presidents of BCCI should not lean over their successors' shoulders.”