Either the BCCI were unaware of the requirements or permitted themselves to be trampled by their captain. Off-the-field in an away situation the manager is supposed to have the last word. Dev, rather than conceding Dhoni's demand should have kept his counsel, even if this meant overruling the skipper.
Dev was not the only one to unquestioningly accept Dhoni's claim. It was brought to the notice of the present interim president of the BCCI Shivlal Yadav that there was a grave danger of India losing the case. This, too, fell on deaf ears. It reflected patent weakness on the part of officials who under the BCCI's constitution represent higher authority as compared to the captain.
In contrast, the ECB, despite being ready to negotiate a settlement, had a sounder grasp of ICC rules and showed a preference for a proper path to voice their grievance. While the judicial commissioner also found Jadeja innocent of a “Level 2” offence, as alleged by the ECB, the latter actually succeeded in securing a verdict in their favour from the match referee, who found the Indian guilty of committing a “Level 1” offence.
It may be argued there should have been a closed circuit television (CCTV) recording of players' goings and comings inside the pavilion at Trent Bridge. The fact is there wasn't. To press a charge knowing such video did not exist was foolhardy.
Besides, signed statements by three eye witnesses - stewards - denied that Anderson had pushed Jadeja, thereby contradicting Dhoni.
It is time for the BCCI to rein in Dhoni. His opinion should not prevail where he is transparently in a hopeless corner and where support to him can only bring embarrassment to Indian cricket.
