Massive coup against Srinivasan, BCCI top officials Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke resign

Trouble is mounting for BCCI president N Srinivasan as secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke resigned on Friday over the IPL spot-fixing scandal.

There are also reports that all five BCCI vice-presidents will resign in the next few hours


"I have resigned from the post of secretary of the BCCI. I am deeply hurt with the recent developments in Indian cricket. Let some new faces come and take the responsibility," Jagdale said.

Shirke also said: "Yes, I have resigned. I have spelt out my reason to the media several times and don't want to comment any more."

Shirke had been saying for the past few days that N. Srinivasan should step down on moral grounds in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal in which his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested.

According to our sources, BCCI officials have given a deadline to N Srinivasan to quit over the percieved conflict of interest.

Sources said, if Srinivasan doesn't resign within 3-4 days, an AGM will be called to impeach the BCCI president.

It's all a matter of time now. Srinivasan's support within the Board has slipped dramatically and now there is a real prospect that he could be impeached if he resists the pressure to quit on moral grounds over the spot-fixing row.

Top BCCI sources also said that Srinivasan has been told to quit till the probe in IPL fixing mess involving Chennai Super Kings and Gurunath Meiyappan is complete. He, however, has been assured that
he can make a comeback if Gurunath and CSK are given a clean chit.

However, Srinivasan is adamant and feels that he has enough support to cling to his post in the Board.

Srinivasan may be playing a victim in BCCI but that is unlikely to help his cause now, as numbers within the Board seem to be heavily stacked up against him.

Jaitley, Shukla's silence tactical or political

Top BCCI functionaries Arun Jaitley and Rajiv Shukla are also under fire from Sharad Pawar for not opposing Srinivasan. The Pawar camp alleged that Jaitley and Shukla's silence is helping Srinivasan stay put in his chair.

The Jaitley camp, however, has refuted the allegations.

Both the camps claim their silence is strategic and will eventually result in Srinivasan' ouster.

Sreesanth turned to Lord Ganesha

Tainted cricketer S. Sreesanth found the eastern corner of his cell in Tihar's Jail number one and set a small idol of Lord Ganesha there. That was the first thing he did on reaching his cell in ward number 10 - meant for first time offenders - on May 28. He was on the verge of tears as the reality of his surroundings sunk in.

He has been sent here till June 4 and may have to stay longer if denied bail.

Though other cricketers accused in the betting case, Ajeet Chandila and Ankeet Chavan are also in the same jail, Sreesanth was shaken when he got to know that he has murder accused Gopal Kanda as his neighbour. He definitely didn't feel better when he was told that former Telecom Minister A. Raja was also lodged in the same jail.

Sources in Tihar Jail said that Sreesanth has been advised not to mingle much with his other jail mates, keeping his tempestuous temperament in mind. "There is some anger among the other inmates against the cheating cricketers. Taunting and passing comments is commonplace. So we have asked Sreesanth to keep his cool," sources disclosed.


His elder brother came to see him in Tihar Jail on May 29 but was not allowed to meet him since he reached at 3 pm, three hours after visiting hours were over. He was asked to come again on May 30. "The cricketers are not being accorded any special treatment. They will get jail food and follow the general rules," an official said.

On observing Sreesanth, the jail officials claim, it doesn't seem difficult to handle him. "He got involved in the betting racket and it is almost like an addiction. However, since he is a religious fellow, we will expose him to various religious discourses that are arranged inside the jail. Hopefully, we will succeed in reminding him of his roots. After all, the focus of imprisonment is also reformatory," the official added.