Shocking tales of next BCCI chief Shivlal Yadav that no one knows

New Delhi: With the long staged drama all set to draw to an end and Hyderabad’s Shivlal Yadav ready to take over the post of the BCCI chief, cricket enthusiasts must have taken a long sigh of relief ultimately. Those who have ridiculed N Srinivasan for maligning the gentleman’s game in the country for bringing a bad name to it the world over, must be elated to learn that a highly gentle and honest person such as Shivlal Yadav, who appears much more clean on camera though, is taking the reign of the Indian cricket in his hands. Nevertheless, there are starling facts hiding in closet which are still to be brought in front of all those clapping non-stop since the day Supreme Court decided upon his name. In a story titled 'I saved Shivlal and Sambaran’ penned by Faisal Shariff and published in rediff.com way back in the year 2003 brings forth various shocking discoveries. Faisal had interviewed the former secretary to the Board of Cricket Control in India (late) Jaywant Lele for the story. It was the time when the Indian cricket test team was preparing for the first Test match in Brisbane. Lele, who was no longer holding any constitutional post with the BCCI then, was fairly candid in his interview to Faisal and talked in length about the Abhijit Kale controversy and presence of corruption factor in selection process. Faisal asked Lele about the scandalous disclosure made by the former BCCI treasurer Kishore Rungta that girls were once found in the rooms of the then selectors(Shivlal Yadav and Sambaran Banerjee), to which he replied in yes and said that it was he who saved both of them, in one such ugly incident, where they brought a girl inside the Garware Club House. He further alleged in his interview that the manager of the Garare Club House, one Suresh Mehta, lodged a complaint against them with police after they had misbehaved with the staff present there, in inebriated condition. He is quoted saying in the story “I asked him to withdraw the complaint. If I hadn't interfered, both of them would have gone home that day itself. Now I feel I did something wrong. Board ka naam badnaam hota na (I felt the board's name would have been spoilt)!” On being asked about the factor of corruption playing roost during selections, Lele replied saying that money did change hands during selection procedure. He said “I don't know if anyone takes money. Lekin aisa hota hai, maloom hai (but things like this happen; I know).” On being asked about the Abhijit Kale controversy on why he was not picked by the selectors of the time despite having enough runs on the back, Lele said “He didn't fail anywhere. He must have asked the selectors why he wasn't picked? They must have said, 'Pay us Rs. 10 lakh.”