MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur has written a letter to ICC President N. Srinivasan, asking him to share the list of ‘unverified suspected bookies’ with him and other BCCI officials so that they can keep away from them.

Thakur also accepted knowing Karan Gilhotra but denied having any knowledge of Gilhotra’s activities as a suspected bookie. Thakur also accused former BCCI president of using International Cricket Council (ICC) to send official complaint to the BCCI.

“I only wish that you had shared the list of unverified suspected bookies with me and other colleagues so that we can could identify such persons and keep away from them,” he said while talking a private Indian TV channel on Monday.

“I have known this person who has been active in the political and cricketing activities in Punjab and adjacent states. I had no knowledge or any clue about his ‘activities as a suspected bookie’,” he added.

Taking a dig at Srinivasan and his family members, Thakur said: “You may also share this information with your family members, whose involvement in betting has been proved.”

Thakur further raised questions on the timing of ICC’s intimation to the BCCI about his links with the suspected bookie.

“A procured complaint and an ICC advisory based on ‘unverified information’ was issued at your behest on the eve of the BCCI Working Committee meeting. It was intended to be a counter offensive on your behalf, since you have not reconciled with my election as secretary, BCCI.”

Earlier, ICC sent a strongly-worded warning to the BCCI about Thakur socialising with a suspected bookie recently.

In its letter dated April 22, the ICC has written to BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya informing it about allegations against Thakur socialising with Karan Gilhotra a few days after being elected the BCCI secretary.

Incidentally, it was also learnt that Gilhotra’s name appears on the latest ICC ACSU database.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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