Srinivasan: 'I exercised all my authority as BCCI president' to save Dhoni's captaincy in 2011

[Kool_SRG]

N Srinivasan has revealed he overruled the selection panel and "exercised all my authority" as BCCI president to save MS Dhoni's captaincy in 2011. Dhoni's position had come under scrutiny, despite India's World Cup win, after they had been whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series in England and Australia.

The Australia reversal, in particular, made the national selectors contemplate appointing a new ODI captain for the tri-series that was to follow. However, this is when Srinivasan is believed to have vetoed any such move by the selectors.

Under the BCCI's constitution at the time, every appointment had to be ratified by the board president. Therefore Srinivasan was within his rights to intervene in this matter. It is not clear, however, whether another captain was picked by the selectors and vetoed by Srinivasan (as the rule specified); his comment only says he ensured Dhoni was retained as captain.

"This was 2011. India had won the World Cup. And [then] in Australia, we didn't do well in the Tests. So, one of the selectors wanted to remove Dhoni as the ODI captain," Srinivasan told the Indian Express. "The point is, how do you remove him as the ODI captain?

"He had won the World Cup [in April 2011]. The selectors had not even thought of who would be his replacement. There was a discussion and then [before the formal meeting] and I said there was no way in which he would not be a player [captain].

"In fact, it was a holiday. I was playing golf. I came back. Sanjay Jagdale was the [BCCI] secretary at that time and he said, 'Sir, they [selectors] are refusing to choose the captain. They will take him [Dhoni] in the team [as a player].' I came and said that MS Dhoni would be the captain. I exercised all my authority as the [BCCI] president."

 

Srinivasan's comments merely confirm what was widely speculated at the time. That the BCCI president, who also happened to be the owner of the IPL franchise (Chennai Super Kings) Dhoni captained, intervened to prevent a captaincy change.

There was also speculation that this also led to Mohinder Amarnath being sacked as a selector when he was tipped to take over as chairman of the selection committee from Kris Srikkanth. Amarnath had been vocal in his decision to oust Dhoni as captain at the time. Sandeep Patil, Amarnath's former India team-mate, eventually took over.

'Dhoni can play for CSK as long as he wants'

Srinivasan has also left the door open for Dhoni to play for CSK for as long as he wants. Dhoni announced his international retirement on August 15 from Chennai, where he is currently involved in a preparatory camp with the other Indian players before flying out to Dubai for the 2020 IPL.

"He can play for CSK as long as he wants," Srinivasan said. "At present, let CSK win the IPL. One of the reasons for CSK's success under Dhoni is that he never thinks beyond the match. He never digresses. And we will follow the same policy now."

Earlier this month, Kasi Viswanathan, the Super Kings CEO, said they expect Dhoni to play for the franchise for another two years at least.

[Kool_SRG]

Dhoni sacking blocked by board chief - Amarnath

Mohinder Amarnath, the former India selector, has said it was the BCCI president, N Srinivasan, who overruled the selectors' unanimous call for sacking of MS Dhoni as captain after the two whitewashes in England and Australia. "The Board President did not approve the unanimous decision to replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni," Amarnath told CNN-IBN.

Post the Test debacle in Australia, Amarnath said, the selectors wanted to appoint a young captain for the triangular one-day series that followed, but their decision was overturned.

"We selected the team for the triangular series, selected 17 players but we did not select the captain," he said. "The captain was selected by somebody else."

Asked whether he questioned the decision, Amarnath said, "When you respect a person you don't ask questions. But my question is, you have a selection committee those who think what is best for Indian cricket then why they are not given a free hand.

The selectors thought about stepping down then, Amarnath said, but decided against it as they, "did not want to create a big stir there as the team was playing abroad and the series was going on there."

There was massive speculation that this was the reason Amarnath's term as a selector ended abruptly when he was actually expected to be the new chairman of the selectors. When asked about that, all Amarnath said was: "I don't miss it."

Amarnath was asked to clarify a rumour doing the rounds that he was cited the BCCI constitution that stated he could not sack Dhoni without the higher-ups clearing it. "Neither will I say yes nor will I deny it, okay," he responded. "I know the facts, and I will tell you the facts when I feel the time is right." He did go on to say, though, that he was not aware of the constitution. Clause 13(a)(iv) of the BCCI constitution states that: "The President shall approve the composition of a team, selected by the Selection Committee."

"When somebody becomes a selector, I don't think you are aware of the constitution of the BCCI," he said. "I was not aware. I don't think even the current committee is aware of the constitution."

According to the Indian Express, Amarnath, Narendra Hirwani and Raja Venkat, during a meeting in January this year for selecting the squad for the CB Series in Australia, wanted to sack Dhoni.

"Sanjay Jagdale, the BCCI secretary and convener of the national selection committee, consulted BCCI president N Srinivasan who shot down the proposal. Srinivasan made it clear that though the majority of the selectors felt that Dhoni didn't inspire confidence as Test skipper the time was not right to remove him," a selector told the paper.

Why does Amarnath think Dhoni doesn't deserve a place in the Test side? "If you see his track record for the last one year as captain, I am talking about Test matches, not one-day, he hasn't done anything," Amarnath said. "You give a run to a guy. I am not saying you should remove a guy overnight, but if you see a guy is failing again and again, I don't think it is going to be possible to continue with the same guy.

"I think he should be replaced in Test cricket. I am not talking shorter versions. He is an asset there, he has done very well, he is a match-winner, but with the technique he has I don't see him do any wonders in Test cricket.

"You have to look at contribution of the players, where you are playing and what opposition you are playing. We have to move ahead with times, and we have to look forward. People who have contributed to the game, we respect them, we adore them, but what is important is future of Indian cricket and not to live in the past. Cricket has changed, age has everything to do in life. We have to look ahead.

"I believe in fresh blood. I was looking forward for a guy like Virat Kohli to take over as captain in one day cricket. I think he is a fantastic player, he is the future."

When Amarnath spoke about moving forward, he was asked about Sachin Tendulkar and what his future should be. "Sachin has been a great cricketer, a great ambassador, he has achieved everything but I think they way he is playing we see a shadow of Sachin Tendulkar," he said. "And I don't accept him to play in the same fashion as he has done in the past. Age is a factor. He is not alone. Look at all greats. Once you cross mid-30s, things become little bit difficult, a little bit more demanding. He is no exception. He has to take it very seriously, and I think the selectors have to have a word with him, what are his plans. Then they should take a call and then decide."

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

@former    @MRI    @reality    @Sucker     @Kontekurradu       @Naaperushiva       @JANASENA    

 

@perugu_vada     @argadorn   @gilly      @dalapathi    @Demigod  @Ara_Tenkai  @CricPokChic    @GullyBoy

@mmharshaa    @Hydrockers

@Pipucbn @mustang302         @dasara_bullodu   @SeemaLekka    @Spartan   @LazyRohit

[Kontekurradu]

dobhi deserved, what he did to VVS, Rahul, Shewag, Gambhir, Bajji

malli ee mun da ki farewell plan cheyyali ani adi bakths gola 10guthunaru. 

 

[Ara_Tenkai]

Antha ayyaka ippudu vachi ilanti allegations chesthe..whats the use...he is retired!! Let him be...malli teamlo chamce adagatle kada...

[mmharshaa]

22 minutes ago, Ara_Tenkai said:

Antha ayyaka ippudu vachi ilanti allegations chesthe..whats the use...he is retired!! Let him be...malli teamlo chamce adagatle kada...

exactly...eee srinivasan gadu indulo kooda veedi loveda lo elevations.. nenu dhoni ni captain ga unchadam valle india world cup win ayyindi ani

[Ara_Tenkai]

Vella erri...Kohli appude vastunadu..he didn't prove much at the time...kohlini captain cheddam ani chustunnam anta..sodi kakapothe

[johnydanylee]

eedini last worldcup ki select cheyatame pedda boothu...wk replacement plan edi lekunda..4th position lo uncertainty...anni kalisi 10poindi world cup.

Top3 SF varaku lakocharu..okkasari vallu aithe 90's team e idi

[Sucker]

Arey Gambhirnor Sehwag captaincy miss ayyinde Test la 

[Dyud]

idi 2011 article aa ippudu annada? 

who cares after 9 years lol.. 

[Kool_SRG]

8 minutes ago, Dyud said:

idi 2011 article aa ippudu annada? 

who cares after 9 years lol.. 

Yesterday...

[argadorn]

1 hour ago, mmharshaa said:

exactly...eee srinivasan gadu indulo kooda veedi loveda lo elevations.. nenu dhoni ni captain ga unchadam valle india world cup win ayyindi ani

nuvu ah matter 2 lines kuda chadhavaledha vyaa ... oh my god 

[MRI]

3 hours ago, Ara_Tenkai said:

Vella erri...Kohli appude vastunadu..he didn't prove much at the time...kohlini captain cheddam ani chustunnam anta..sodi kakapothe

Kohli ni kaadu.. Kohli laanti vaadini.. ippudu alantivi ennanna cheptaru.. ippudu kooda Kohli gaadu dandagey.. no captain material in the team..

[MRI]

4 hours ago, Kontekurradu said:

dobhi deserved, what he did to VVS, Rahul, Shewag, Gambhir, Bajji

malli ee mun da ki farewell plan cheyyali ani adi bakths gola 10guthunaru. 

 

aa inka? poyi babysitting chesuko po..