Don't know why N Srinivasan is shamelessly trying to be BCCI president: Cricket Association of Bihar secy Aditya Verma

Unrecognised Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) secretary Aditya Verma was a little-known man until he took on the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan.

Once a university-level cricketer, 48-year-old Verma has given sleepless nights to the CSK owner. And he continues to be a thorn in the flesh of the shrewd administrator.

The Supreme Court’s directive on Friday barring Srinivasan from taking the office even if he wins the polls of the BCCI may have given Verma a sense of victory, but he says he is not done yet. His mission is to cleanse the board of corrupt practices and people. 

“The SC has made it clear that till it arrives at a conclusion, Srinivasan cannot take charge. I don’t know why this man is so shamelessly trying to be the board president despite knowing he cannot run the day-to-day affairs following the SC directive,” Verma told dna.

“He could have waited a few days for the SC to come out with the final ruling. He thinks he is above law and the game.

I believe he would not have won if it was not the South Zone’s turn to nominate BCCI president. An open election would have seen him lose. These guys make constitution for themselves.”

Following the SC directive, Verma says he does not have words to express his joy.

“You cannot ask a person who has won how he feels. This is not my personal fight. I am fighting for Bihar, which has been out for 13 years.

“Even a great cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar was forced to retire from ODIs  on Srinivasan’s insistence. The selectors spoke to Sachin about his future and that’s how he quit.

“If Lalit Modi can be charged with conflict of interest and banned on disciplinary grounds, then why can’t Srinivasan?

He runs the board as if it belongs to him. When you don’t have an option, people like us knock on the doors where we hope we will get justice,” he added.

Verma says it is not his personal war. “People like Srinivasan have spoilt the BCCI’s name. My fight is for justice. Srinivasan has bought all the South associations to become the president. If this is not corruption then what is?” asks Verma.

However, Verma admits that he wants recognition for Bihar cricket in the board.

“Our young cricketers are losing out on cricket. At least they should have an ad-hoc committee that could develop and keep a track of the development of the game in Bihar,” he added.

Verma slammed Srinivasan for recognising Jharkhand and snubbing Bihar. “When the state was divided into three, Amitabh Choudhary started a new association in Jharkhand and the BCCI stole all the rights of Bihar and recognised Jharkhand because Choudhary is close to Srinivasan,” he says.

Fighting cases puts a financial strain. However, Verma says he has well-wishers who help the CAB financially.

“Ask Srinivasan where gets his money from. He is spending BCCI’s money to fight his cases. As far as we are concerned, we have friends, well-wishers of Bihar cricket who are helping us to fight. In the fight for respect and our rights, money is not important,” he said.

Where does he see his fight with Srinivasan headed to? “I want to keep fighting till BCCI is cleaned. And till Bihar gets due respect and recognition. Although I am a small businessman, I want to keep fighting,” he says.