Srinivasan defiant, BCCI holds meetings

KOLKATA: The top brass of the BCCI were huddled in a series of meetings during the day to discuss the raging IPL spot-fixing issue amid indications that the defiant N Srinivasan will hold on to his position as BCCI president.

It is learnt that some of the top BCCI officials met Srinivasan and have tried to convey to him that it would be better for the BCCI's image and the IPL's credibility if he steps down.

But top BCCI sources said that Srinivasan has shown no inclination to step down from the post as yet, maintaining that he had done no wrong.

The Tamil Nadu strongman has been under enormous pressure to quit after his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings CEO Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for allegedly indulging in betting. Srinivasan is the owner of the Chennai Super Kings franchise.

BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley also had a meeting with Srinivasan though it is not known exactly what was discussed by the two.

A board press release stating that Srinivasan will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. triggered off speculation that he may indeed step down on his own.

But it appeared unlikely that he would do so having only on Saturday strongly rejected that possibility saying that nobody could bulldoze or railroad him into submitting a resignation.

Saturday night, a dinner hosted by Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya brought BCCI officials and state unit representatives face to face with Srinivasan.

BCCI officials, who attended the dinner, did not appear to be too keen to press for a change of leadership at the moment, sources said.

They said a consensus seemed to have emerged at the dinner against seeking Srinivasan's ouster at this juncture.

The BCCI members, many of whom owe allegiance to Srinivasan, have argued that there was no provision to suspend an incumbent president, in a clear attempt to dissuade the detractors from pursuing such a course.

Srinivasan, IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, Dalmiya and former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah had a prolonged discussion in a separate room and were among those who left the dinner late.

A top BCCI official said that Srinivasan's mood was that of defiance and he was not prepared to step down.

"It appears that he will not quit on his own. Some senior BCCI members will speak to him and then we will get a clear idea about what he wants to do," the official said on condition of anonymity.

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Shweta Pandey

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