N Srinivasan diluted the Anderson-Jadeja controversy - Aditya Verma

N Srinivasan

Aditya Verma, the secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal(CAB), has blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief N Srinivasan for covering up the “Pushgate” issue and letting England fast bowler James Anderson escape unpunished even after the fast bowler admitted to his misconduct in his spat with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. 

"With N Srinivasan playing puppet, the Jadeja-Anderson issue was mishandled by BCCI and India came a cropper and proved a laughing stock in the world. This is because of Srinivasan and his cronies at the BCCI.

"We wonder why Srinivasan acted in such a timid manner. Was he worried that England and Australia associations will be offended because he became ICC chairman by their help? He not only diluted but covered up the whole issue. He allowed England board and ICC to almost highjack the matter and settle it in their favour," Verma told reporters.

The 32-year-old was found not guilty of the Level 3 offence he was charged with due to the lack of proper evidence by Judicial Commissioner Gordon Lewis on August 1. 

Lewis, after his verdict, called for some modifications to the ICC Code of Conduct, only for the former BCCI chairman to reject it outright. 

Verma said: "While Anderson, as per reports, himself admitted of his misconduct, the ICC allowed him to go scot free. And it all happened with Srinivasan at the helm of affairs. Under the circumstances, would we believe that there was some understanding between him and the ECB so the Anderson was not punished.

"The latest uttering of Srinivasan that the ICC Code of Conduct need no overhauling is definitely against the interest of Indian cricket."