MEIYAPPAN RAN IPL'S MADRAS TEAM, SAYS HUSSEY

SYDNEY, Oct 01, 2013 (AFP) Indian cricket chief N. Srinivasan's son-in-law ran the Indian Premier League's (IPL) Chennai Super Kings team, ex-Australia star Mike Hussey has claimed, in comments that could add fuel to a spot-fixing scandal.

Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been charged by Mumbai police with forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of contract and handing critical team information to alleged bookmakers.

But the embattled Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief, under fire for a family member's alleged involvement in the scandal, has maintained Indian cricket chief N. Srinivasan's son-in-law ran the Indian Premier League's (IPL) Chennai Super Kings team, ex-Australia star Mike Hussey has claimed, in comments that could add fuel to a spot-fixing scandal that Gurunath was only a “cricket enthusiast” even though he sat in the team dug-out during matches and took part in IPL auctions. Hussey, who has been part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise since the Twenty20 competition's first edition in 2008, asserted in his new autobiography 'Un- derneath the Southern Cross' that Meiyappan was running the team.

“Our owner was India Cements, headed by Mr. Srinivasan,” Hussey wrote, according to excerpts published on the ESPNCricinfo website. “As he was also on the board of the BCCI, he gave control of the team to his son-in-law Mr. Gurunath. He ran the team along with Kepler Wes- sels, who was (then) coach.”

Hussey is the first player to openly state that Meiyappan was in charge of the team. His comments could cause further trouble for Srinivasan, who won a third year in office on Sunday