'Srinivasan is behaving like a banana republic dictator'

Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's counsel Mehmood Abdi has said N Srinivasan was behaving like a "banana republic dictator" and called the outcome of the BCCI Working Committee meeting in Chennai as "fore drawn conclusion".

Srinivasan on Sunday stepped aside as the President of the BCCI till the probe into the spot-fixing scandal in the IPL-6 is completed against his son-in-law and CSK Team Principal Gurunath Meiyappan, arrested on charges of betting. 

Jagmohan Dalmiya will take over as the interim chief of the BCCI looking after the day-to-day affairs. 

"Srinivasan is behaving like a banana republic dictator. The outcome of the Chennai deliberations of BCCI working committee was a fore drawn conclusion. Marred by hugely misplaced symbolism the working committee of BCCI was bound to pass off as yet another day," Abdi said in a statement.

Abdi said while the BCCI has its headquarters in Mumbai, the Working Committee meeting took place in Chennai at the doorsteps of Srinivasan. 

"...Not only that, the major stake holders Arun Jaitley, Rajiv Shulka and Anurag Thakur, BCCI joint secretary, who convened the meeting preferred not to be physically present in the meeting and joined through video link. 

"Such half-hearted attempt further emboldened Srinivasan to have his way so long as he wishes to and the country will helplessly watch this blatant indifference to morality and public sentiment," he said. Abdi urged all members of the BCCI to resign en masse and render a working crisis to Srinivasan.

"It's high time for all stake holders in BCCI to give up this piece meal, negotiate this crisis and tender their resignations en masse from their respective posts and render a working crisis to Srinivasan. 

"Our politicians are capable of stalling parliament on issues of resignations at the drop of the hat but choose kid glove approach to affairs of their private interests." Abdi is also the President of Shriganagnagar District Cricket Association in Rajasthan.