Srinivasan's rivals weighing options, Dalmiya holds the key

N Srinivasan is likely to have the East Zone's complete support for a second term at the BCCI AGM but a lot will depend on Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya's stance.

N Srinivasan is likely to have the East Zone's complete support for a second term at the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) AGM but a lot will depend on Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Jagmohan Dalmiya's stance.

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According to a BCCI official from East, Dalmiya has still not consented to proposing Srinivasan's name for a second term at the AGM, scheduled to be held on December 17. "Will cross the bridge when we get there," is what he has told officials close to him.

Dalmiya's role is the key here as he has two units under him, the CAB and the National Cricket Club (NCC). So he himself can propose and second any candidate.

But the BCCI official, who is also close to the president-in-exile, feels a number of reasons could ensure Srinivasan's smooth re-election. First, the permutations and combinations for support were decided long back. "Now all six units could be backing him," said the official.

If that happens, it will mean Srinivasan would win unopposed. According to the amendments made in the BCCI constitution in 2012, members from any zone can file nomination but he has to be proposed and seconded by members from the zone which has the turn for that term. It's East this time.

Deja vu

It is a strategy similar to what Srinivasan had used to a few months ago when there was a move from the opposition, led by Vidarbha, Mumbai and Punjab to take him on during the height of the IPL scandal. Srinivasan thwarted the rebellion by keeping the south zone together.

The same opposition - led by Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar - are weighing their options to take on Srinivasan. Without Dalmiya's support they don't stand a chance.

According to the BCCI official, the unwillingness of Srinivasan's 'rivals' to come out in the open and challenge Srinivasan is the reason behind it.

Even the opposition against Srinivasan isn't united, says the official. "While Pawar has been vocal against Srinivasan, the vice-president from his zone (Ravi Savant) didn't express any reservations against him at Tuesday's emergent committee meeting," he said.

Prestige and survival instinct may not allow the CAB to digress from their stance of supporting Srinivasan but it depends entirely on Dalmiya.

The BCCI official however sounded bullish. "It's about the institution and not what one person thinks. I think Dalmiya will propose Srinivasan's name," he said.

The only factor that could prevent Dalmiya from ganging up with Pawar is the shame he was put through three years ago. Scheduled to host the India-England tie in the World Cup, Eden was stripped of the match by the ICC, then headed by Pawar. Dalmiya hasn't forgotten it.