Anurag hits back at Srini over bookie link charge

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 27

The fight for the control of the Indian cricket board (BCCI) became dirtier today as Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, launched a stinging attack on N Srinivasan, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman.
Yesterday, a letter from ICC CEO Dave Richardson to the BCCI, regarding Thakur’s proximity to a “suspected bookie” became public. Though that letter was signed by Richardson, it was seen as the work of Srinivasan. Thakur wrote his own letter today, and he addressed it not to Richardson but to Srinivasan, and released it to the media.
Thakur wrote that Srinivasan is not “reconciled” to his becoming the BCCI secretary, and thus launched a “counter offensive”. He also implied that the ICC’s advice to the BCCI regarding the “suspected bookie”, Karan Gilhotra, lacks corroboration. Thakur said that he has known Gilhotra for some time but has no knowledge of his “activities as a suspected bookie.”
“A procured complaint and an ICC advisory based on ‘unverified information’ was issued at your behest on the eve of the BCCI Working Committee meeting. It was intended to be a counter offensive on your behalf, since you have not reconciled with my election as Secretary, BCCI,” Thakur wrote.
“I would request at least now share with me or other colleagues in BCCI the list of suspected bookies in India, so that we may keep away from them. You may also share this information with your family members, whose involvement in betting has been proved.” The reference is to Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, who was implicated by a Supreme Court-appointed committee for betting on the IPL matches.
Thakur wrote that the complaint about him being known to Gilhotra was provided to the ICC by one Niraj Gunde. Gunde, Thakur said, “is circulating to the media in Delhi the details of documents against your critics in the BCCI. He operates on your (Srinivasan’s) behalf.”
Later in the evening, Srinivasan told PTI: “I have seen that letter written by Anurag (Thakur) which has been circulated to the media. He has written something in it but I feel it’s not proper to respond to him through media.”