Srinivasan steps aside for IPL 'fix' probe

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has announced president N Srinivasan will step aside from his role until an investigation into allegations of spot-fixing in this year's Indian Premier League has been completed.

However, Srinivasan has stopped short of resigning from the BCCI despite calls for him to consider his position.

Srinivasan called the meeting "fair" in an interview with the NDTV news channel. "I announced that I would not discharge my duties until the probe is concluded," he told the station.

The calls for Srinivasan's resignation had grown after his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested by police in the spot-fixing investigation.

Srinivasan had resisted resigning, saying that he faced no allegations of wrongdoing and would not influence an ongoing internal probe ordered by the BCCI. Ajay Shirke, who resigned as treasurer on Friday, said Srinivasan would continue to sign off on all major decisions. Shirke said he was "extremely sad and extremely disappointed" and would not take back his resignation.

BCCI secretary general Sanjay Jagdale also resigned on Friday, citing disappointment with recent events, while IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla left his position on Saturday.

Test cricketer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and players Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested a fortnight ago for allegedly receiving money from bookmakers to manipulate parts of IPL games involving their team, the Rajasthan Royals. Their arrests were followed by those of a number of illegal bookmakers and led police to Meiyappan, who is suspected of giving out team information.

With the Champions Trophy starting with India against South Africa on Thursday in Cardiff, security is set to be heightened to prevent corruption.

"The teams have been fully briefed," said Steve Elworthy, the ECB's tournament director. "The position is zero tolerance and we believe all that can be done to deliver a safe and secure tournament is in place. The resounding message to anyone seeking to corrupt the tournament is that we are 100 per cent aware and 100 per cent prepared."