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In troubled times BCCI looks to Pawar, Srinivasan for help
MUMBAI: Under fire from all fronts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to seasoned politician and cricket administrator, Sharad Pawar, for
MUMBAI: Under fire from all fronts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to seasoned politician and cricket administrator, Sharad Pawar, for guidance to sail through choppy waters.
From the look of things, the annual general meeting (AGM) on September 21 could result in a stand-off between the BCCI and Supreme Court. On the other hand, the BCCI’s relations with the International Cricket Council (ICC) have hit a new low, especially after the war of words between BCCI officials (president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shrike) and ICC chairman Shashank Manohar.
CAUTIOUS
At the AGM, the BCCI members will need to be careful in the business they transact as the sword of contempt of court hangs over their heads. The court has ordered to restrict decisions only to activities of the past year.
It is learnt that Pawar will be hosting a dinner for the members who are going to attend. He has decided on a role for each member and they will be requested to act accordingly at the AGM, raising specific points.
Sources revealed that senior BCCI officials have also requested Pawar to intervene in matters with the ICC, especially in handling Manohar.
Among other things on the agenda, the BCCI’s nomination at the ICC will also be taken up. While it is being felt the best man to take up BCCI’s issues at the ICC is N Srinivasan, officials are wary of how the Supreme Court might view such a move.
There was fierce rivalry between the Thakur-Shirke group and Srinivasan faction for control in the BCCI, but the equations have changed now. All the members are battling for survival in the face of the sweeping reforms recommended by the Supreme Court’s panel. As a result, they are willing to set aside their differences and handle the crisis together. Thakur and Shirke had travelled to Chennai to meet the former BCCI president. DISAPPOINTMENT The BCCI members are also disappointed that the ICC chairman has refused to play ball. To counter the Manohar-led ICC, there is no stronger personality to lead the BCCI than Srinivasan. But it will have implications in the Supreme Court, which had barred Srinivasan from the BCCI administration because of conflict of interest.
Srinivasan will not be attending the AGM, but there is a chance he may travel to Mumbai and attend meetings with the BCCI officials on the sidelines of the AGM.
“Both Shirke and Thakur had come to meet him recently (at Chennai). If someone can tackle Shashank and ICC, it is Srinivasan. He will give umpteen ideas. During, Srinivasan’s tenure as BCCI president, India was the most powerful at the ICC,” said a Board insider.
