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BCCI under Srinivasan was better for cricket than CoA system: ‘Crusader’ Aditya Verma

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Bihar unit chief Aditya Verma says he never apologised to N. Srinivasan for filing plea that led to SC-monitored clean-up of cricket.

New Delhi: Aditya Verma, secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), has denied reports that he apologised to former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N. Srinivasan for filing the petition that led to a Supreme Court-monitored administrative clean-up of cricket.

“I never apologised to Srinivasan or anyone else. I was misquoted by some media outlets. I simply said that my fight was for the revival of cricket in Bihar and not against any individuals who may have suffered in the course. I don’t regret filing the cases at all,” Verma told ThePrint.

On the sidelines of the BCCI special general meeting (SGM) held on 22 June, Verma was quoted as having apologised to Srinivasan. “What I meant was that perhaps the BCCI under Srinivasan was better for Indian cricket than this tug-of-war between Vinod Rai and BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry,” Verma clarified.

Rai is the head of the apex court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), a body tasked with implementation of the Lodha Committee reforms. Rai and Chaudhry have publically disagreed on several issues, including finalising the latest players’ contracts.

ThePrint has reached out Chaudhry for a response. The story will be updated when he does.

Verma’s petition, filed in the wake of the 2010 Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, eventually led to a two-year suspension of two IPL franchises — Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals — and Srinivasan’s ouster from the cricket board for conflict of interest. He had also filed a case seeking a full-time membership for Bihar in the BCCI, a spot the state lost to Jharkhand after its bifurcation in 2000.

‘Should have let Bihar play’

Verma says the entire situation could have been avoided if the BCCI just allowed Bihar to field a team. “Had the BCCI accepted the membership of CAB and not stopped Bihar from having its team for 18 years, this situation would have never arisen,” Verma said.

The Supreme Court had in January directed the BCCI to allow Bihar to take part in the Ranji Trophy. The state will take part for the 2018-19 season slated to begin later this year.

“The BCCI is not doing any favour by allowing Bihar to play. In any case, it was the court that found Srinivasan guilty of conflict of interest. I never made any allegations,” Verma said.

He, however, quickly added that the onus is on BCCI to clear up the mess. “Is the BCCI above the Supreme Court? Why does it not implement the Lodha Committee recommendations? The sorry state of affairs in the BCCI today is only because of its own arrogance.”

Verma is among the original petitioners in the case, as a result of which, the court appointed a three-member panel of retired SC judges headed by former chief justice R.M. Lodha to recommend administrative changes within the cricketing body. The BCCI contested many of the recommendations mandated by the panel and has landed itself in a protracted legal battle.

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