'Some of the criticism is unfair and not well-founded'

Appointed as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), suspended BCCI chief, N Srinivasan has hit out at the media for what he called 'unfair criticism' of him in the lead-up to be nominated for the position.

Srinivasan is one of the 13 people named by the Mudgal panel which is investigating charges of corruption during the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Acting on the report, the Supreme Court of India suspended him from discharging his duties as the president of the BCCI.

"I believe that some of the criticism is unfair to me and it's not well-founded," Srinivasan told reporters at the MCG, after being named as the ICC chairman. "One must judge me by results. It's the first day. I have just been elected. One has to wait and see as to what is the effect I have on the ICC before you make that call. What my image is, the media has a view. I stepped aside voluntarily. I have not done anything wrong for which I should feel hesitant to take this position. Most of the criticism is not well-founded, as time will tell. Beyond that, it is difficult for me to go because there is a matter in some court that I do not want to overstep."

Srinivasan also rubbished reports that the Indian board had threatened to pull out of the ICC if it's demands had not been met. "We may not always agree," he said. "That doesn't mean at any time we would have even dreamt of walking away from the ICC."

Srinivasan also insisted that cricket's image has not been battered with all the allegations of corruption within the sport. "I can't accept that cricket has an image problem," he said. "There may have been some instances. Rare instances, few and far between," he added.