Loud Thinking

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“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”

— Pamela Vaull Starr

Nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief:

Supreme Court

Soumitra Bose | Updated: March 25, 2014 16:44 IST

The Supreme Court has asked N. Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president to ensure a fair probe of the Indian Premier League fixing and betting scandal. Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was a team official of Chennai Super Kings, has been indicted by a Supreme Court appointed inquiry committee of betting and sharing team information. (Top-10 developments in the case)

“In our opinion, Srinivasan has to step down for a fair investigation into the allegation of betting,” said Justice A.K. Patnaik in the course of the hearing the Justice Mukul Mudgal report that went into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL. “It’s nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief, he should go if cricket has to be cleaned,” the court said. Meanwhile, Srinivasan has refused to comment on the issue, saying he will “study the court observations”. The case will come up for hearing again on March 27. (Pressure on Srinivasan mounts as three vice presidents ask him to resign)

As senior counsel C.A. Sundaram sought to defend BCCI, Justice Patnaik said: “We will show the papers. You see it and tell us as a counsel about your opinion and not as a paid counsel for Srinivasan.”

At one stage, comparing the two reports – one by an earlier inquiry committee comprising two retired judges of the Madras High Court and the other by Justice Mudgal appointed by the apex court, Justice Patnaik asked: “Can we say that the probe report was managed and if we say so, then what will be the consequences.” The apex court added: “Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair? If you don’t step down, then we will pass the order.”

The Mudgal committee submitted two reports to the Supreme Court on February 10. The first, signed by retired judge Justice Mudgal and Additional Solicitor General of India L. Nageswara Rao, asked the court to “decide the further course of action” because the probe committee did not have the power to impose punishment. Another supplementary report, signed by Nilay Dutta, a vice-president of Assam Cricket Association and a member of the IPL Governing Council, said: “This should not be misinterpreted to mean that the report suggests that the Hon’ble Court would decide on the punishment or penalty to be imposed.”

The BCCI, which is backing Dutta’s comments, wanted the Supreme Court to let it start fresh disciplinary proceedings against Gurunath and Chennai Super Kings under the IPL franchise rules. The Supreme Court is not willing to do and has instead asked Srinivasan to step down. (BCCI requests top court not to divulge the contents of the envelope)

Last July, a two-member BCCI-appointed panel comprising a pair of retired judges (T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian) had found “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the part of Gurunath and Rajasthan royals co-owner Raj Kundra. However, the Mudgal panel pointed out that the question of whether or not Gurunath had been involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing “not been investigated thoroughly” by the anti-corruption units of the ICC and the BCCI or the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department of the Chennai police, “even though some information was available for such an investigation to be conducted.”

Story first published: March 25, 2014 11:09 IST

Srinivasan under pressure as former players ask him to resign

NEW DELHI: Pressure mounted on N Srinivasan to quit as BCCI president with former cricketers and administrators asking him to respect the Supreme Court observation that he should step down for a fair probe into the IPL fixing scandal.

After going through the contents of a report filed in a sealed cover by apex court-appointed probe panel into the scandal on Tuesday, a bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik said there are “very very serious” allegations made in the report and unless the BCCI president steps down, no fair probe can be conducted.

Former cricketers Mohinder Amarnath and Bishen Singh Bedi said that Srinivasan should now step down while former BCCI administrator and Rajasthan Cricket Association president Kishore Rungta also joined the chorus.

Srinivasan also faced heat from within the board as BCCI vice-president Shivlal Yadav said they will follow Supreme Court’s suggestion.

“SC has given the order, nobody can challenge it. We have to accept it. Since the SC has given an order, there is no question of going back on it or giving an opinion on that. It has to be carried out in total and BCCI will have to follow whatever the Apex Court has given,” Yadav said.

Asked if he was willing to do the duty, he said, “Absolutely, I am ready to accept any responsibility given to me.”

Former cricketer Amarnath, a member of 1983 World Cup winning team, said that the “game was bigger than an individual” and Srinivasan should step down in the interest of Indian cricket.

“In the interest of the game, one should step aside and let the enquiry go on. As a lover of the game, he should step down. He should respect the law and he should honour what Supreme Court has suggested. Let’s see how it goes,” Amarnath said.

Bedi took to twitter to express his opinion. “BCCI touches lowest low-thx SC’ nudge ‘Srini must step dn’ & out of all matters crkting!What happens2all his cronies in bcci & icc?!Hail SC!,” he tweeted shortly after the court observation.

In his second tweet, Bedi wrote, “Justice MMudgal arrived on Indn crkt scene most providentially/aptly 2 clean up corrupted culture-any culture gd or bad stems frm top down!!”

Rungta was scathing in his criticism of Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was found guilty of placing bets on his IPL team Chennai Super Kings.

“I am happy that Supreme Court has asked him to resign. This was absolute arrogance that he was continuing as president of the BCCI,” Rungta said.

“The conduct committee (earlier) had said no Board member would indulge directly or indirectly with the game (IPL team). An Exception was made for Srinivasan, which was wrong. I wish Supreme Court had taken a view at that time,” Rungta said.

Srinivasan had stepped aside in June 2013 after Meiyappan’s name had cropped up in the fixing scandal, which had to led to ban on pacer S Sreesanth and his two other Rajasthan Royals colleagues. In his absence, former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya discharged the duties of the president.

However, at the BCCI AGM in September 2013, Srinivasan was re-elected as president.

Supreme Court had appointed a three-member probe panel, led by retired judge Justice Mukul Mudgal to investigate into the fixing saga.

The Apex court-appointed panel had replaced BCCI’s own two-man probe panel, which had exonerated Meiyappan of any wrongdoing and its verdict was challenged in the courts.

Overcoming is to prevail over a struggle or conflict.

“Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ”

Theodore Vail (1845-1920);
U.S. telephone industrialist

Don’t Let Fear of Being Different Stifle Talent

Diversity is a near-universal value in corporate America, but the upper tiers of management remain stubbornly homogeneous. Consider Fortune 500 CEOs: Only 23 are female, just six are black, and none are openly gay. One reason for this may be “covering,” which is when people downplay their differences from the mainstream. Someone with a disability might forgo her cane at work. A gay man might avoid using “he” or “him” if asked about his partner. This behavior can be driven by perceived pressure from management, which can also decrease employees’ confidence and engagement. Managers striving to assemble a truly talented team should be aware of how even unspoken demands to conform might affect morale. Eliminate these and find opportunities to model a more inclusive culture by “uncovering” yourself.

Adapted from “Fear of Being Different Stifles Talent” by Kenji Yoshino and Christie Smith.

ICC must wake up or be ready for the wind up..!

Very very senior Indian players may be deeply involved in match fixing….that is the reason During the Indian SC hearing, BCCI pleaded before the court not to disclose the contents and names of players mentioned in the report.

Shame on ICC

BCCI, IPL and the ICC must be dissolved immediately for the sake of the glorious game of cricket

IPL fixing scandal: SC asks Srinivasan to step down for fair probe

NEW DELHI: In a major setback to N Srinivasan, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that the BCCI president must step down if fair probe is to be done into betting and spot-fixing charges in IPL.

The SC said it has no faith that BCCI under Srinivasan would take proper steps to cleanse cricket of the present maladies.

The apex court said the sealed cover report of its three member inquiry panel is so demanding that Srinivasan should not continue in the post even for a second.

The SC added that the allegation in the sealed report are so serious and of such nature that BCCI can no longer be trusted with the investigation any more.

The SC said, “We will not like to damage the president but we find that if Srinivasan does not step down no fair investigation can take place.

The Indian SC asked, “Why Srinivasan is not stepping down? It is so nauseating? Why is he sticking to the president’s post?”

The SC allowed BCCI counsel to read the sealed cover report and asked him to come back with response on Thursday.

Dooms day for Srinivasan and the ICC..!

As there are rumours that very senior Indian cricketers are nominated in the India Supreme Court investigating committee report, what credibility of the T20 ICC World Cup will remain of those very senior Indian players are playing in the tournament and the ICC, who knows every thing keeps silent.

In fact, today is the dooms day for the ICC along with Sri Navasan the chief of the BCCI and the future chief of the ICC’s new set up.

For the sake of any iota of semblance of credibility of the ICC the ACU of the ICC must be sacked immediately in view of the findings of the Indian Supreme Court’s observations and the findings of the ISC investigating committee, excerpts given as below:

Last July, a two-member BCCI-appointed panel comprising a pair of retired judges (T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian) had found “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the part of Gurunath and Rajasthan royals co-owner Raj Kundra. However, the Mudgal panel pointed out that the question of whether or not Gurunath had been involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing “not been investigated thoroughly” by the anti-corruption units of the ICC and the BCCI or the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department of the Chennai police, “even though some information was available for such an investigation to be conducted.”