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Rupa Gurunath, daughter of Ex BCCI Prez N Srinivasan, takes over the reins of TNCA
As the filing of nominations came to a close on Wednesday evening, Rupa’s was the only nomination filed for the post of president, whose election was announced on the floor of the house as per TNCA norms
In continuation of the family’s iron grip over cricket in Tamil Nadu, Rupa Gurunath, daughter of former BCCI chief N Srinivasan, took over the reins of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) at the 87th annual general meeting in Chennai on Thursday. With her election, she becomes the first woman to head a BCCI-affiliated cricket body.
Being the lone candidate who had filed the nominations for the post of TNCA president, she was declared elected unopposed. Similarly, all the other office-bearers too were elected without a contest, clearly indicating the stranglehold of Srinivasan over the state’s cricket body.
When nominations came to a close on Wednesday evening, it became evident that it was a show of Team Srinivasan.
Rupa, a full time director of India Cements, the family’s flagship company, is the wife of Gurunath Meyyappan, tainted in the 2013 spot-fixing scandal that rocked the IPL resulting in the ban on Chennai Super Kings from the tournament and he himself was slapped with a life ban.
Srinivasan who held the post of TNCA president since 2002, could not continue any longer following the Supreme Court stipulation fixing an age limit of 70 years for holding any office in the BCCI.
After the spot-fixing scandal, the TNCA is now confronted with the alleged match-fixing scandal in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Reports have surfaced that bookies have influenced the outcome of the tournament.
On assuming office, Rupa told the media that TNCA had ‘zero tolerance’ towards corruption and prompt action would taken.
About her priorities, she said getting clearance from the state government to open the three locked stands – I, J and K – at the Chepauk stadium was of foremost importance.
The three stands remained locked since 2013 over the dispute pertaining to payment of arrears. According to the CAG report tabled in the state assembly two years ago, the TNCA and the Madras Cricket Club owed ₹2,081 crore due to the delay in revising the rent.
Last month, top officials of the government carried out an inspection of the stadium, in connection with revising the rent before finalising the lease agreement. The sprawling stadium is spread over 32 grounds (One ground is 2,400 sq ft.) and the TNCA currently pays ₹12 lakh a year as rent.
“Finalising the lease agreement with the government and opening the three stands is an immediate priority,” she said, expressing happiness at being the first woman to be the chief of TNCA, which she described as a professionally run organisation.
