BANGALORE, AUGUST 19: Does AC Muthiah have the moral right to chair the crucial Board of Control for Cricket in India's Working Committee meeting on Sunday? This is a question that the members of the Working Committee should address even before the meeting gets under way.Ironically, the same Muthiah, as the cricket Board president, is scheduled to chair the Board Working Committee meeting where, among other things, the committee is to discuss and draw up a Code of Conduct!In simple terms, it means that a person accused of turpitude is to chair a meeting that will set the bench mark of moral conduct for players and officials!There is, of course, a school of thought that holds that ordinarily the Spic-Tidco case has little relevance to the working of the BCCI. But these are not ordinary times. The game of cricket is going through an extremely turbulent phase and common refrain is that a bunch of crooks are involved with it in every sphere of its activity.Numerous Indian players, administrators and even coach and other officials have been raided by the Income Tax department. Some have even been bracketed with bookmakers. The reputation of the Board, its players, officials and the game itself is at its lowest ever ebb.Now, with the president charge sheeted and the treasurer having been raided, it looks like even those who have to take some hard decisions are themselves under a cloud.Under the circumstances, what vision statement is this Board going to throw up on Sunday? And what will be the credibility of that so-called vision statement? Will it be looked upon as only a gimmick to pull wool over a gullible public's eyes?The Indian board needs to reassure its many honest players, faithful public, loyal sponsors, government and the media that it has the best interests of the game in mind and that it has the will to clean its stables.Meanwhile, president Muthiah must set a shining example and uphold the dignity of his office by stepping down until he is cleared of the charges.Else the Board members have the option to invoke a clause in their memorandum of association (38; 111 a) If any . office-bearer .shall be guilty of such conduct .likely to endanger the harmony or affect the reputation, stability or interest of the Board, such member or office-bearer . shall be liable to expulsion ..Should the Board come to such a sorry pass? Over to you Mr Muthiah.
