Like Parliament, there are no permanent friends or enemies in the BCCI
In the wake of the alleged betting controversies surrounding Chennai Super Kings' Gurunath Meiyappan, confused Board office-bearers are unsure about N. Srinivasan's ouster as BCCI president. A dinner party in Kolkata on Saturday night is likely to see some hectic politicking.
- Soumitra Bose
- Updated: May 25, 2013 05:08 PM IST
Senior Board of Control for Cricket in India members are at their wits end as the latest betting controversy surrounding a senior member of the Chennai Super Kings camp that has left the integrity of the game's top administrators under the microscope. At least two senior BCCI vice-presidents tell NDTV that the pressure on N. Srinivasan to step down as chief is unlikely to impact the Board hierarchy any time soon.
For obvious reasons, no senior BCCI official wants to be "officially" quoted. Srinivasan's massive powers are well known. Lalit Modi, who was booted out as IPL chairman by Srinivasan in 2010, calls him a "monster" who runs international cricket from Chennai. "If Mr Srinivasan himself steps down, then it's another case, but as it seems now, he is adamant to hold on to his position," said a BCCI insider.
Srinivasan and other Board functionaries will be present in Kolkata for the Indian Premier League final between Chennai and Mumbai Indians on Sunday. On Saturday night, several Board honchos will meet at an informal dinner party hosted by former president and Cricket Association president Jagmohan Dalmiya. "Given Srinivasan's political equation with the BCCI affiliates, it is unlikely anyone is going to speak against him. After all, he was an unanimous choice when he became president-elect in 2010. His clout has grown tremendously after he took over as president in 2011 and he is still very confident of the support from affiliated units," the BCCI source said.
Even if his son-in-law and CSK member Gurunath Meiyappan is being probed for betting by the Mumbai Police, Srinivasan has refused to accept moral responsibility. Srinivasan's India Cements own the Chennai franchise, but several BCCI officials are not surprised that Srinivasan has put the Board ahead of his son-in-law.
"Morality and responsibility are two words confined to the dictionary. It doesn't work in the Indian Parliament and it has never worked inside the BCCI. There are no permanent friends in the BCCI and no permanent enemies. So while anything can happen, right now Srinivasan's position remains intact," the BCCI source said, adding that an "interim arrangement can only happen if Srinivasan voluntary quits or two-thirds (24 members out of 31) of the BCCI governing body wants him to go."
The history of power struggle in the BCCI is like a thriller. Srinivasan's role to oust once cricket's strongest man, Dalmiya, from the BCCI's top spot is well known in cricket circles. In 2002, Srinivasan, then the president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, joined hands with Sharad Pawar, Shashank Manohar and Lalit Modi to form a strong opposition to usurp Dalmiya's throne. A new BCCI was born under Pawar, a political heavyweight, with Srinivasan and Modi controlling the joystick.
"Today Modi and Srinivasan don't see eye to eye. Modi has been slamming Srinivasan every day from London and there was a time when both were like fast bowlers hunting in pairs," the BCCI functionary said. On Friday, a senior member of Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party censored Srinivasan and wanted him to quit on moral grounds. "Removing Srinivasan will not be easy," he added.
Although former president Manohar's name is doing the rounds to step in as interim president, the BCCI constitution doesn't allow such a possibility. "As per the constitution, one of the five vice-presidents should step in till a new one is elected. Normally the senior-most man takes over," the BCCI functionary said, adding former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah (representing West Zone) is a very senior administrator. While Arun Jaitley has a good chance given his stature and seniority, his party, BJP, may not allow him.
BCCI has five vice-presidents: Jaitley (North Zone), Shivlal Yadav (South), Chitrak Mitra (East), Shah (West) and Sudhir Dabir (Central). Insiders say the current situation is "extra ordinary" and special occasions may see "extra" constitutional decisions. "The situation is very fluid but since Gurunath's case is restricted to the ethics and codes of IPL, Srinivasan may not be directly impacted. Sense of morality is purely personal," the BCCI source said.
Srinivasan's two-year tenure ends this year, but he is entitled to a year's extension till September 2014. The Tamil Nadu strongman can even ask for another three-year term but right now, it's going to be a battle for survival. Saturday's dinner at Kolkata will be no ordinary party for Srinivasan. He is meeting an old foe and a former king-maker, Dalmiya. Both are well versed in the number game and could strike a 'new' alliance in the history of Indian cricket!