The Board of Control for Cricket in India's Working Group Chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who on Monday promised to leave no stone unturned to restore the credibility of the game, said that banning after-match parties during the Indian Premier League "could be one of the solutions to cleanse cricket," according to the PTI. Addressing his first press conference since taking over charge from N. Srinivasan, Dalmiya said that he will make all efforts to achieve the ultimate goal so that "the good name of cricket is retained." Dalmiya: "I don't have any medicine that you get instant result. We don't have any such kind of a magic. We will try our best." On whether there was a timeline for the probe against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and CSK franchise, Dalmiya said, "It is a million dollar question. How can there be a timeline. It will depend on how you proceed and how you work. Just 24 hours have passed since I took over. Let us wait and not rush through" (PTI, 6/3). PAKISTAN TODAY reported Srinivasan "will continue to represent the Indian board" at the Int'l Cricket Council. Mumbai Cricket Association Acting President Ravi Savant confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Srinivasan "emerged as the preferred choice when it came to representation at the game's governing body." While Savant didn't elaborate on the reasons, "another member revealed 'continuity' as the main factor." Savant: "Since Srinivasan has been attending most of the ICC meetings for the last couple of years, it makes sense not to disturb the pattern" (PAKISTAN TODAY, 6/3).
MEDIA BACKLASH: The AFP reported India's media on Monday lashed out at the country's cricket board for "shaming the nation" after it allowed Srinivasan to avoid resigning over a spot-fixing and betting scandal that has engulfed the national sport. The Times of India wrote, "In one of the lowest points in Indian cricket history, an emergency board meeting of the BCCI dealt a huge blow to the game." The Indian Express said the meeting confirmed that the board "thinks for itself, not the game." The paper wrote, "Srinivasan may have given way for the moment, but the extent of his sway over the board was clear in that his resignation was not asked for, nor was it forthcoming" (AFP, 6/3). The PTI reported Punjab Cricket Association President I.S. Bindra on Monday said that "he fully stood by his claim that Sri Lankan Board had withdrawn a report which had mentioned an Indian player allegedly violating anti-corruption rules" during the '10 tour on pressure from the BCCI. Sri Lankan Cricket "refuted Bindra's claims that a BCCI official had arm-twisted the Sri Lankan Board to withdraw a report which had mentioned an Indian player allegedly violating anti-corruption regulations" during the Indian tour in '10 (PTI, 6/3).
