Jagmohan Dalmiya, who will run the day-to-day affairs of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Monday admitted that the image of cricket had taken a beating due to the spot fixing controversy.
However, Dalmiya failed to provide satisfactory answers on key questions regarding the proposed BCCI probe on issue.
Admitting that “these were difficult times”, he side-stepped questions relating to the composition of the three-member probe panel and its time of completion.
“It’s a million-dollar question,” he said to a specific question on the appointment of a new member of the commission. Dalmiya was addressing his first press conference after making a comeback.
BCCI had earlier announced a three-member probe panel. With Sanjay Jagdale resigning from the post of BCCI Secretary, Dalmiya will now have to fill up the vacancy in the panel.
The Commission will probe into the allegations of betting and spot-fixing against Gurunath Meiyappan (N. Srinivasan’s son-in-law), IPL-franchise Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals.
Dalmiya also avoided responding to queries on his new role in the BCCI. Specific questions on his designation, his financial and administrative powers including representation of BCCI to the International Cricket Council (ICC) also elicited sketchy answers.
“Hold on. Have patience,” he said.
“A decision will be taken soon. I may or may not represent the BCCI at the ICC,” he said to specific queries.
The Working Committee of the BCCI on Sunday evening decided that Dalmiya will conduct its day-to-day affairs after Srinivasan announced that he will not discharge his duties as the President till the probe was completed.
Revoking Resignations
According to Dalmiya, Jagdale (former Secretary of BCCI) had made it clear that he will not revoke his resignation. Attempts were being made to woo back Ajay Shirke (former Treasurer) by requesting him withdraw his resignation.
The Board had given a 24-hour time frame to both Shirke and Jagdale for withdrawing their resignations.
“We will wait for another 24 hours for Shirke to withdraw his resignation. People are talking to him,” Dalmiya told reporters.