BCCI itself is responsible for IPL controversy: Muthiah

Holding the Indian Cricket Board responsible for all the mess that IPL is in today, former BCCI President AC Muthiah today demanded that all the officials having a stake in the IPL franchisees should no more be a part of the Board.

Muthiah claims he had raised the issue of BCCI insiders having commercial interest in the IPL but his suggestions were not heeded and instead rules were changed to help certain people.

"I feel to a larger extent the Members of BCCI have failed in their responsibilities and they had consciously allowed themselves to be exploited by certain groups by amending the byelaws of the Society.

"BCCI should ensure all those who have some stake or interest either directly or indirectly should be kept away from BCCI, so that BCCI shall perform independently," Muthiah said in a statement.

Muthiah was indirectly taking a dig at BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan, who is defacto owner of Chennai Super Kings as he is Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of India Cements Ltd which owns the franchise.

"Just expelling one or two members will not be a solution to the present episode," he added.

The former BCCI president said he will take the matter to the Apex court and suggested that Board should bar officials in its affiliated state associations from having any commercial interests either directly or indirectly in IPL franchise.