Interim set-up doesnt fall within constitution

In my pedestrian legal understanding of the law,the interim set-up that has been constituted does not fall within the four walls of the BCCI constitution. I,as a former BCCI administrator,think this interim arrangement does not hold legal sanction, Shirke said.

Jagdale and Shirke were special invitees to the emergent working committee meeting held in Chennai on Sunday.

It was clear however that Jagdale,one of the most respected cricket administrators,was not happy that the working committee didn8217;t make an effort to take concrete steps to prevent a repeat of the spot-fixing and betting scandal.

They were unanimous in asking us Shirke to take back the resignation,but I feel bad that I cannot respond in a positive manner, Jagdale said in Indore after the emergent working committee.

issues not discussed

Jagdale said he was hurt that important issues were not discussed in the meeting. What hurt me during the meeting is we should have discussed the system and not just individuals. How to cleanse the system and and what wrong things have entered the game of cricket was not discussed, Jagdale said.

He also said his decision to resign was not influenced by anyone. My stand is not connected in any way with any politics. Nobody influences me,nobody pressurises me. I did what my heart said,what my mind said, Jagdale said.

To be frank,my decision was not because of any individual or any group. There are no groups in the BCCI to my knowledge. The recent on-field and off-field happenings hurt me. This is not how I played cricket. I was really hurt as were crores of Indians.

Asked about Srinivasan stepping aside and not resigning from his post,Jagdale said,That8217;s a BCCI decision. I don8217;t want to comment on it.

Shirke said,I don8217;t want to act pricey or displease anyone,but I cannot continue.

Shirke also added that he did not want to 8216;devalue8217; his words by trying to raise a hue and cry when Srinivasan did not resign.

The president,right at the outset of the meeting,made it clear that he would not resign. After that I thought that I should not devalue words or my standing by asking for the president8217;s resignation, he said.

Srinivasan,however,had said that he was confident that Shirke and Jagdale would take back their resignations.

All of us requested Jagdale and Shirke to continue so that there is continuity. They said they will come back tomorrow. Shirke is my best friend, he said after the meeting.

However,by evening it was clear that Jagdale and Shirke were sticking to their guns.

However,unfazed by the reluctance of Jagdale and Shirke to withdraw their resignation,head of BCCI8217;s interim set-up Dalmiya said if they did not join duty,he may have to do their work.

If they Jagdale and Shirke come back they will discharge their duties as secretary and treasurer. If they do not,then the responsibility of discharging the duties will be on me, Dalmiya said.

Wasn8217;t asked to step down

Meanwhile,Srinivasan also said that no board member had asked him to step down. No,nobody, said Srinivasan when asked if Punjab Cricket Association8217;s president IS Bindra had called for his resignation at the meeting.

At the meeting,Mr Bindra did not ask me to resign. It was a smooth meeting,there was no acrimony, he said.

Minutes of the meeting

BCCI president N Srinivasan intimates the working committee that Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke,who had resigned as secretary and treasurer respectively on Saturday,are special invitees for the meeting.

Srinivasan says the resignation of the duo is unacceptable.

Vice-president Arun Jaitley expresses his concern the that the credibility of the Indian cricket board was being affected because of the spot-fixing involving the three players and because of the betting allegations against Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan.

Jaitley asks Srinivasan to step aside till the inquiry commission completes its probe and advises him not to discharge any presidential functions in order to allow a free and fair probe.

Srinivasan agrees to Jaitleys proposal to step aside till the commission completes its probe.

Jaitley informs the working committee that he told Srinivasan to step aside in Kolkata last Sunday.

Working committee asks Jagdale and Shirke to reconsider their decision and gives them 24 hours to change their mind.

IS Bindra of the Punjab Cricket Association,however,demands that Srinivasan resigns from his post rather than stepping down.

Bindra raises questions about the appointment the three-member panel to enquire into activities of Gurunath Meiyappan.

Prof Ratnakar Shetty answers that it was IPL Secretariat not governing council that appointed the panel. IPL secretariat is comprised of CEO Sundar Raman and Peter Griffith.

Members request Jaitley take over as interim president but he refuses citing busy political commitments.

Jaitley then proposes names of Shashank Manohar and Jagmohan Dalmiya as two candidates.

Srinivasan is intimated that he can come back as president if he is cleared in the probe.

Manohars name doesnt find acceptability and then Jaitley and Anurag Thakur propose Dalmiyas name.

It is agreed by members that Srinivasan will step aside and not resign. Dalmiya agrees to be the head of the interim arrangement. PTI