Kolkata, June 3 (IANS) Indian cricket board interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya Monday did not rule out representing the board in International Cricket Council deliberations, and said banning after-match parties of the Indian Premier League could be a possible solution to cleaning up cricket.
Addressing his first media meet, a day after being asked to take charge of the day-to-day affairs of the board with its president N. Srinivasan stepping aside, Dalmiya said that former secretary Sanjay Jagdale had made it clear he would not be returning to his post while ex-treasurer Ajay Shirke had been given another 24 hours to make up his mind.
Reacting to a poser on who would be the BCCI representative in the International Cricket Council, Dalmiya said he was entitled to do so, though the final decision was yet to be taken.
“Regarding representation of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in the ICC, a decision will be taken. But it has not yet been decided.”
“Yes, I am entitled. I may represent. Or someone else may represent. It is my choice,” Dalmiya said.
Regarding the latest status over the resignations of Jagdale and Shirke, he said: “As far as Jagdale is concerned, he has communicated that he has no intention to withdraw his resignation. This has been his (Jagdale’s) stand so far,” the 73-year-old Dalmiya said.
Talking about Shirke, the former ICC chief said: “I tried to talk to Shirke, also Mr. Shetty and others tried to talk to him but were unable to communicate. We have not received any communication from him one way or the other. I am hopeful we will receive a communication. We will wait another 24 hours. I am hopeful. (But) there is a limit”.
Asked under the present arrangement who had the powers to appoint a new treasurer, Dalmiya made it clear he had the powers to fill up vacancies in the board. “If there is a vacancy, it will be filled up.’
“On who would be the appointing authority, the answers are there in our rules. Please consult the rule book,” he told a reporter.
Jagdale and Shirke resigned from their BCCI posts Friday in protest against cricket board chief Srinivasan refusing to step down after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for his alleged involvement in IPL betting.
Srinivasan Sunday at an emergency working committee meeting of the board agreed to step aside till the BCCI’s probe into the spot fixing allegations were complete.
Dalmiya said banning IPL after match parties could be a possible solution, but one could not say it would definitely have the desired impact.
“Yes, that may be one of the possibilities. But we cannot say it will have the desired result. Too early to say. But all efforts must be made (to cleanse cricket,” he said.
Asked whether he had any plans to stop IPL for a year in the wake of the spot-fixing allegations which has marred its reputation, the seasoned cricket administrator said: “Efforts should be made to keep everything running. But how much it has to go that we have to work out according to the developments.”
Dalmiya, who promised to keep “no stone unturned” to cleanse indian cricket, said the game was going through “difficult times” in the country, but exuded confidence that he would be able to tackle the situation “with the help of all”.
Admitting that the image of cricket has been tarnished, Dalmiya said: “But we can either cry over spilt milk or do something about it.”
But the Cricket Association of Bengal president asserted that he could not produce instant results.
“I don’t have any medicine that you get instant result. We don’t have any such kind of a magic. We will try our best.”
Dalmiya gave evasive answers to most of the queries during the 20-minute interaction, instead choosing benign expressions like “too early to say”, “wait for some time” and “allow me to settle down first”.
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