Here, Lorgat for the first time comes up with his version of the truth. He rubbishes the allegations, calling it a slanderous attempt to discredit him. Excerpts from a candid conversation.
Haroon, now there is an allegation that you offered bribe to a South African journalist to suppress a story. It is also being said that in return for that you promised to get SA player Alviro Petersen to apologize to her for making some lewd comments about her sometime earlier. How would you react to this?
Let me categorically say this is complete rubbish. It is total nonsense and is a slanderous attempt to discredit me. I have never offered bribe to anyone and have always conducted myself with integrity and honesty. To say this is unbelievable. In fact, I'd challenge the people who are saying this to bring me on live television with the journalist in question and Alviro and ask the questions straight upfront rather than trying to do this behind my back.
It is also being said that your suspension is just a matter of time. In fact, you are already a marginalized figure within the South Africa cricket establishment. Is this true?
I will state this on record that I am very much the CEO of Cricket South Africa. I have not been suspended and it was I who suggested on Sunday to CSA that I will voluntarily step aside from dealing with the BCCI or getting involved in ICC affairs as long as the independent probe is on. It is only fair I do so. I continue to deal with all the other cricket playing countries and continue to look into South Africa's domestic cricket. CSA clarified the issue of suspension on Tuesday by issuing a formal media release and I don't understand who is spreading this rumour about suspension. As I said this is a clear attempt to defame me and hurt my credibility.
What explains the Indian cricket board's almost visceral dislike for you?
I really don't know. If I did I'd tell you. Yes, I can speculate on this issue and there are a number of things that come to mind but I haven't been able to pin point on my fault and no one has tried to point it out to me either. Was it my role in commissioning the Wolf Report and trying to improve the ICC's governance structure? Was it to do with moving the match away from Kolkata during the 2011 CWC or is it that I had a difference of opinion with the BCCI on some issues in the chief executive's meeting in the ICC? It can be all of this or neither. Look, let me make this clear - if someone points out to me what my fault is and if I think he is right I am willing to apologise for my actions and mend fences. I am not an egotist. But I don't even know what my fault is at this point.
Finally, what role did you have in David Becker writing what he did about the BCCI? Was it done at your behest? And did you later try to stop the publication of this story by trying to threaten a journalist with dire consequences if she did publish the story?
I will make it absolutely clear I did not even know what David Becker had written when he had done so. I had no clue. When I was made aware of the contents I realised that it might have an adverse impact on CSA. Accordingly, I requested, in consultation with the top management of Cricket South Africa, the journalist in question not to run the story. Obviously she had every right to run it and all I did was ask her to consider my request. Never did I threaten her or try to coerce her. It is far from the truth to say I did so.
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