Did BCCI ex-secretary Ajay Shirke attempt to sabotage England tour?

Soap Opera continues! Did BCCI ex-secretary Ajay Shirke attempt to sabotage England tour?

Sacked BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke

Sacked BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has landed in trouble after being accused of trying to disrupt the upcoming India-England limited-overs series.

The Pune-based administrator allegedly called up the England Cricket Board (ECB) president, Giles Clarke, to reportedly inform the latter of "problems" concerning the one-day and Twenty20 series.

According to a TOI report, Shirke, after being ousted from his BCCI post by the Supreme Court, called up the ECB president regarding some problems with hosting the India-England series. The report stated that a worried Clarke had then inquired with BCCI CEO Rahul Johri regarding the same. Johri had then given Clarke an assurance that the series would progress as planned.

The email from Clarke to Johri read, "I have received calls from Mr Shirke who I understand is no longer the honorary secretary of BCCI. Can you please confirm to me that the England team will continue to be looked after by the BCCI in the usual fashion, with proper security, player daily allowance payments, hotel bills covered and the like, with transport organised at all times? Obviously it is entirely a matter for BCCI where matches are played, but please advise soonest that the schedule will be adhered to, or any changes."

ECB chairman Giles Clarke

Responding to the allegations levelled against him, Shirke claimed that some people were trying to damage his reputation. "They can say whatever they want. It's nothing but a bunch of lies," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

Interestingly, the turmoil in Indian cricket administration saw Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), in a letter dated January 6, to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri informing the latter of their inability to host the two Under-19 Test matches between India and England, scheduled to be played in Chennai in February.

TNCA president N Srinivasan cited the 'domestic programmes' as reason for refusing to host the games between the India and England U-19 teams.

TNCA chairman N Srinivasan

The two unofficial under-19 Tests were supposed to be held in Chennai from February 13-16 and February 21-24. TNCA is hosting the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in Chennai.

"Look a lot of our TNCA league matches are yet to be completed as grounds are severely damaged due to Cyclone Vadra. Therefore we would need to complete the league in between Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy," TNCA member Dr RN Baba had said at the time.

He also dismissed speculation that it was a way of showing defiance by TNCA.

"If we would have shown defiance, why would we host Mushtaq and Hazare Trophies which are BCCI tournaments? Our joint Secretary RI Palani was in the United States. Once he came back, he inspected all the grounds. We need the bigger grounds for TNCA league games," Dr Baba said.