The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday blamed breach of protocol by Cricket South Africa "for uncertainty over the Indian team's scheduled tour to South Africa later this year," according to the PTI. BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said, "Things are going [on] since long. Certain things have to be put in right perspective. Let me inform you that BCCI in normal circumstances would have done anything [for the tour to happen]. But the protocol of finalizing any series is a joint declaration. But that declaration was originally done without BCCI's approval. So we are waiting." The BCCI is also reportedly upset with CSA for appointing former ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat -- who had rubbed some top Board officials on the wrong side in the past -- as its new CEO, "despite hints that such a move could hamper the good relations that existed between the two cricket boards" (PTI, 10/3).
'MR. CLEAN' SPEAKS: In Mumbai, Vijay Tagore wrote former BCCI President Shashank Manohar, "known for his integrity and impeccable track record in cricketing circles," has said that BCCI President N. Srinivasan "has no right to continue as the BCCI president and that he should have resigned the moment his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in connection with match-fixing." Manohar, "often called Mr Clean and said to be the best president the BCCI ever had," said that "by brazening it out, Srinivasan has betrayed a lack of self-esteem and conscience." His "candid remarks are seen as the first salvo aimed at Srinivasan from within the opaque corridors of the BCCI, the world's richest board that virtually runs the cricketing universe." Manohar said, "Srinivasan has no right to continue as president. If you had the slightest of conscience, self-esteem and care for the board, you ought to have put in your papers the moment your son-in-law was arrested. You did nothing and as a result the board's reputation has taken a hit to the extent that the people have lost faith in this board" (TIMES OF INDIA, 10/3). The PTI reported the BCCI on Thursday "took strong exception" to Manohar's attempt to get his name expunged from the legal cases against the Board, with Patel saying that "the move amounts to shirking responsibility." Patel: "There was no question of affidavit [filed by Manohar in the Bombay HC] being discussed. But [what was discussed] was the case fought by Shashank Manohar in his individual way [capacity] leaving aside the other office bearers and the employees of BCCI. That thing was discussed. Members were not happy with the kind of thing that has happened" (PTI, 10/3). IANS reported newly appointed National Cricket Academy Chair T.C. Mathew said that "he will speak to all concerned on Kerala's cricket hero S. Sreesanth being banned for life for spot-fixing." Mathew: "He has been banned by the BCCI after its independent disciplinary committee gave him a hearing. In the coming days I will speak to his lawyer and also with Sreesanth himself. We have already raised this issue with the BCCI and a court is also looking into the case" (IANS, 10/3).
ROAD TRIP: The PTI reported newly-appointed Indian Premier League Chair Ranjib Biswal on Wednesday said that "the roadmap he prepared to make the tournament clean and corruption-free would be placed before the event's Governing Council" at its meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi on Oct. 6. Biswal: "I have something in mind. I will share this with members of the Governing Council including Ravi Shastri and G.R. Vishwanath. Then only I can be able to speak publicly on it" (PTI, 10/2).
