Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Sanjay Patel has clarified that "a slight mistake" in the circular issued to summon Friday’s Working Committee meeting in Delhi forced it to be called off.
"Every member knew what the meeting was called for. The meeting was called off as there was a slight mistake in issuing the notice. By mistake, the word 'emergent' was not written," Patel told newspersons after the dust had settled on the day's proceedings.
"A normal working committee meeting requires more time. Unfortunately, it was just four days’ time. To avoid the technicality of it, the meeting was cancelled," he said.
Patel said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the findings of the IPL Governing Council.
"All the members were apprised of the present situation (in the wake of the Mumbai high court’s court order). The meeting was only called for discussing IPL Governing Council's outcome. That was the only agenda. So for that matter also agenda was not circulated."
He went on to add that Srinivasan had already resumed his duties at the helm of the BCCI's affairs, but respecting the court's verdict he chose to stay aside till time their petition in the Supreme Court is cleared.
"Let me clarify, Srinivasan has already taken over after the Working Committee meeting in Kolkata. And after he had resumed the duty, the high court order was received. So he said he will step side till the time an order comes from the Supreme Court," he said.
"Elected President of the board is Mr Srinivasan and he has only suggested and requested Mr Dalmiya to continue the way we are functioning right now. We are glad that Dalmiya has accepted to work in this situation," Patel said.
A defiant N Srinivasan was forced to abandon his bid to return to the helm of affairs after the Working Committee meeting was called off earlier in the day fearing legal trouble in the wake of court’s ruling that the two-member panel that was formed to probe the IPL spot-fixing scandal was "illegal and unconstitutional".
Image: N Srinivasan
Photograph: Getty Images
