IPL show is on; CSK & RR will play too ... something on BCCI Presidents

Those genuine lovers cannot remain without watching the game … such is the love for the game that as Neville Cardus wrote – you travel in a train, see a bowler in his run-up, have your eyes fixed – though, you know very well aware  that what happened to that delivery – whether was hit for a six or got a wicket – who the bowler or batsman was – would never be know… still you see and enjoy….. that very game is now being dragged through the mud with Qs on integrity of everyone involved.   Whatever it is, IPL will happen and crowds will throng to the stadium…..

The good news for lovers is that – IPL will go on as scheduled ~ Sunil Gavaskar will take charge of BCCI for the duration of the IPL, as directed by Apex Court. "Any Vice-president of the BCCI can take over after the IPL is over," the SC added. "Gavaskar will not be allowed to do commentary during the IPL but he will be compensated." SC refused to pass any order for allowing N Srinivasan to participate in activities of ICC. For non-IPL BCCI affairs, Shivlal Yadav will take charge. The Supreme Court has also said it won't stop any player from playing in IPL. All the IPL teams will continue to play in the tournament. So a reprieve for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings. As interim president of BCCI, Gavaskar will exercise all powers concerning IPL, said the SC.

The present imbroglio is the outcome of a legal battle between the BCCI and the Cricket Association of Bihar, which is not a member of BCCI…. The man arguing their brief is the son of Ex-BCCI President. To recap some legal background last year in May, IPL governing council appointed a three-member commission to investigate the alleged corruption in the IPL; Bihar Association filed petition before Bombay High Court raising issues of conflict of interest.  Panel found nothing wrong and Court called the probe panel illegal.  The matter escalated to the Highest Civilian Court of India.   As appointed by Court,  retired judge Mukul Mudgal became the Head of the probe panel.   The Committee on match fixing, concluded there was not enough evidence to exonerate or condemn Meiyappan and so recommended further investigation. The Committee  deviated from its brief  and submitted a list of six names, including at least one current India player, that came up in the course of its investigations. The committee sealed the names because no investigation of the players has taken place but it felt duty bound to report them to the court because they had come in the course of other investigations.

Now the Supreme Court has directed the BCCI some ….. here is some stray thoughts… the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India is the highest post at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which runs Cricket in India.  Though the Board runs the game, it is not representative of the Indian Govt or perhaps the  people too, and is registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act.  The Post of the President of BCCI is an honorary one – over the years high and mighty have been its incumbents.  The post is rotated zone-wise across India and a person can hold the post of BCCI president for a maximum of three years.

There have been many prominent names and the ones from Chennai, I can recall are : P Subbarayan; MA Chidambaram; S Sriraman; AC Muthiah and N Srinivasan himself.

R.E. Grant Govan, (Raymond Grant Govan) a Delhi based British industrialist, a Pilot was the first President in 1928.  The next to hold the post was Khan Bahadur Capt. Sardar Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, politician and statesman from the Punjab. He was a prominent scion of the Khattar tribe of Attock, North Punjab

The 5^th in line was Paramasiva Subbarayan, the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communications in Jawaharlal Nehru's government. He is the father of General P. P. Kumaramangalam who served as India's Chief of Army staff.

The 11^th to hold Office between 1960-63 was ‘Muttaiya Annamalai Chidambaram’ an industrialist after whom the Chepauk stadium is named. His Companies include - Automobile Products of India and Indian Aluminium. He was instrumental in founding the Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC) and served as the chairman till his death. He was the Mayor of Madras in 1955. He also started the Tamil Isai Sangam to promote music in Tamil.  His son AC Muthiah also held the post for a tenure.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th Mar 2014.