Big brother is sacked as corruption scandals engulf Indian cricketÂ
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
As pressure mounts on World Squash Federation president Narayana Ramachandran, his brother, Narayanaswami Srinivasan, has been removed from his post as chairman of world cricket’s main governing body.
Ramachandran is clinging on to his position with the WSF despite a number of speakers, including PSA chairman Ziad Al Turki, calling for him to step down from his post during a stormy WSF annual meeting in Nice, France.
The PSA and several national federations have set up a Global Task Force to call for change throughout the WSF following the latest Olympic disaster, describing Ramachandran’s continuation in the post as “embarrassing” to the sport.
They firmly believe that squash’s Olympic bid had no chance of success with Ramachandran at the helm.
Today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to remove Srinivasan as their ICC representative. He was replaced by Shashank Manohar, the new BCCI president.
Ramachandran is under growing pressure to step down from the world of squash. Today, the axe fell on his brother as the BCCI unanimously removed Srinivasan from the post of ICC chairman.
According to the BBC, the move follows corruption scandals embroiling cricket in India.
Their report stated: “Srinivasan, 70, stood down as BCCI chief after the Supreme Court last year found him guilty of conflict of interest issues regarding his ownership of the Chennai Super Kings team in the Indian Premier League.
“Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyapppan, was found guilty of illegal betting while serving as team principal at Chennai and banned from all cricket-related activities.
“An administrator removed by his home board cannot serve in the ICC.”
The New Indian Express reported: “The Tamil Nadu strongman will lose his grip over Indian cricket for good after having already been ousted as the BCCI President owing to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal in which his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was held guilty of betting charges.
“Although Srinivasan was not personally indicted for the damaging scandal, the Supreme Court-appointed committee had chided him for not acting on the elements which corrupted the IPL.
“With his sacking as ICC chairman, Srinivasan now only remain the president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. His company India Cements had owned the IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, which was suspended for two years after its officials were held guilty of betting.”
Following the revelations by Squash Mad over the weekend, this website has been contacted by Indian media outlets keen to follow up the story.
We have also received numerous emails from Indian players, coaches and administrators complaining about the negative effect of Ramachandran’s involvement in the sport.
Elsewhere in the world, several leading federations have pledged support to the PSA call for change.
Today’s cricketing dramas follow revelations that criminal activities exposed in athletics could dwarf the corruption that has engulfed FIFA in recent months.
As the IOC observes these events unfolding, it is more important than ever that squash gets its house in order, removes any suspect federation officials, and begins to rebuild a reputation that has been tarnished by those it elected to serve the sport.
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