Bindra urges ICC to probe Srinivasan

Former BCCI president IS Bindra has appealed to the directors on the ICC's executive board and its Development International Board to probe N Srinivasan for allegedly violating the Ethics Code of the game's governing body. 

In an open letter, which was released to the media in London, Bindra pointed out the clauses that states that the directors should not use their position with the ICC for personal advantage or gain.

"It gives me great pain to write this letter, especially because the person who is at the centre of the controversy happens to be heading the same board of which I have been a member for the last 38 years and served as its President," he wrote in his letter. 

"However I have always believed that the game is greater than any individual and the truth must come to light," Bindra, a former advisor with the ICC, added. 

Bindra said Clause 2.1 of the Code clearly states that the directors shall act in an ethical manner and shall not engage in conduct that gives the appearance of impropriety and Clause 4.1 makes it abundantly clear that the directors shall not use their position with the ICC for personal advantage or gain, including having any material and direct personal involvement with ICC broadcasters, such as acceptance of material payments from such broadcasters. 

Bindra also criticised the ICC spokesperson, who had reportedly said that the ICC has no objection to "stepped aside" BCCI President, N Srinivasan taking part in its Annual Conference as Director or in any other capacity. Bindra said he and numerous cricket lovers across the globe have reservations about Srinivasan attending the London meetings. 

"ICC spokesperson may still not have any objection to the stepped-aside President attending the annual conference but millions of cricket enthusiasts in India and across the globe have strong reservations about his participation in any deliberations until he is cleared by the competent authority and allowed to step back by the (Indian) board. 

"In your capacity as the Board of Directors, it is not only an obligation but a sacrosanct responsibility to administer the application and implementation of the Ethics Code. As you will no doubt be aware, the ICC Code of Ethics sets out a number of rules that govern the conduct of Mr Srinivasan as an ICC Director," Bindra, the current chairman of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) wrote. 

Srinivasan stepped aside as the BCCI president after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, the team principal of Chennai Super Kings, was arrested by the Mumbai police for allegedly betting in the Indian Premier League. Chennai Super Kings team is owned by India Cements, a company headed by Srinivasan. 

"You would agree, with great remorse, that cricket, once a gentleman's game has now become a businessman's game. It's no longer played by the book but by the bookies. Previously the most despised three letter word used to be "tax'. Now its replaced by "bet" or worse still "fix". It's time then that somebody stands up, musters the courage and puts the love of the game above everything else and presents a complaint against the current President of the BCCI Mr N Srinivasan," Bindra stated.