BCCI asks CEO Rahul Johri to leave

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rahul Johri has been asked to leave. Johri had earlier tendered his resignation, but was asked to continue. But the recent leak over the tender with regards to team sponsorship looks like one of the major reasons for the current office-bearers asking him to leave.

Speaking to IANS, a board official said that the leak of confidential financial information was the final nail in the coffin as the current dispensation believes in utmost transparency in its functioning.

"He has been informed of the decision by email. He had resigned earlier and was asked to continue in the interim. However, the leak of confidential financial information of a bid that was being prepared accelerated the decision. Highest levels of confidentiality are expected when any bid takes place in an organisation," the official said.

"This was considered to be scandalous and had the potential to compromise the bid. If you cannot keep financial matters confidential, then it is a serious lapse that cannot be excused, especially with the new BCCI."

A BCCI functionary said that maybe he was a little over confident ever since he escaped with gender sensitisation after allegations of sexual harassment against him.

"Maybe he was a little overconfident. He was able to survive despite his earlier conduct and there was an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against him. The reports of which were not even made available to the complainants which was found to be very surprising. Yet, he was asked to undergo gender sensitisation.

"We felt that to have a CEO who has undergone this punishment was not appropriate for a role which requires you to give a fillip to women's cricket. And as CEO he had to meet market leaders. He is certainly not the man who is capable of leading India towards resumption of cricket. The female cricketers and women working in BCCI must be feeling relieved," the functionary said.

Former Committee of Adminstrators member Diana Edulji said that justice has finally prevailed. "Women cricketers and staff will heave a sigh of relief and after all this indiscipline during nomination of coaches and all, he was rewarded with an increment which I was against. Better later than never. Justice has been done," she said,