Dubai: Speculation is rife over Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni missing the first Test against Australia in Brisbane in the light of the hearing of Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee’s report on the Indian Premier League (IPL) spot-fixing case, to be held on November 14. Vice-captain Virat Kohli will lead the team in the first Test.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stated that Dhoni has been rested for the first Test as a “prophylactic measure to ensure optimum recovery” from his wrist injury which kept him out of the recent One-day series against Sri Lanka. Insiders of Indian cricket feel that he is being rested as a preventive measure against any adverse remark about him in the Mudgal Committee report.
Dhoni is the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, which is at the centre of the controversy due to the allegations of betting against Gurunath Meiyappan, the erstwhile team Principal who was arrested in the spot-fixing scandal. According to information, Dhoni had described Meiyappan as just an enthusiast in his deposition before the probe panel — which tantamounts to lying.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman N. Srinivasan is the father-in-law of Meyippan, apart from being the managing director of Indian Cements that owns Chennai Super Kings team and hence has come under the scanner along with Dhoni. Following the scandal, the court had barred Srinivasan from carrying out his duties as president of the BCCI till the verdict on the scandal, but did not stop him from heading the ICC.
The Mudgal-led committee was appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate the fixing and betting scandal in the IPL. The report is being submitted almost six months after the apex court had asked Indian Police Service officer B.B. Mishra and the police departments in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai to assist the investigation. Before winding up the probe, the committee had examined some star cricketers.
The Mudgal Committee’s report on the alleged involvement of 13 players and officials in the IPL match and spot-fixing scandal will be discussed before the Supreme Court but who will get away and who will be punished is a matter of conjecture. When the Mudgal committee submitted its final report to the Supreme Court on November 3, it reportedly named a key member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team and touched upon his links with illegal bookmakers and match fixers.
Meanwhile, the BCCI annual general meeting is scheduled to be held on November 20 and hence the outcome of the Mudgal Committee report is likely to have a huge impact on the voting pattern. Srinivasan is seeking another stint as BCCI president and his future as a cricket administrator will depend on the verdict of the court.
