While saying that he won't step down as BCCI president and addressing a media conference on Sunday, N Srinivasan hardly put a foot wrong. He was speaking with the conviction of a man whose conscience is clear, with the confidence of a man who knows he can't be wronged. Queries on what should happen to arrested son-in-law Meiyappan Gurunath were also smoothly dealt with.
There was, however, one remark which raised eyebrows and left listeners dumb for a second. Only a few days back, it was announced by India Cements that Gurunath is just a “member” of the Chennai Super Kings and held no post. There was a question at Sunday's media conference in Kolkata that how did Gurunath enjoy the privilege of moving around with the team if he was just a 'member'. Came Srinivasan's brief reply: “He is just an enthusiast.”
It's not known what the reaction to this in the media conference hall in the Kolkata hotel room was, but it could have been stunned silence in front of the TV. Enthusiast? What does that mean? All these years Gurunath was seen enjoying the privileged position of sitting in the dugout, and travelling with the team to South Africa for the Champions League. He enjoyed VVIP hospitality in the hotels and in the stadia when the Chennai Super Kings hopped across the country and was seen in at the dais during the prize distribution function when they won the crown.
Our question: Which 'enthusiast' gets a chance to do all that? The number of Chennai Super Kings fans must be running into thousands and many of them can be classified as 'enthusiasts'. What are the chances of offering them the privileges that were extended to Gurunath? Can Mr Srinivasan clarify what did he mean by 'enthusiast?'