N Srinivasan's Hours As ICC Chairman Could be Numbered as BCCI Hold AGM

After much delay, uncertainty and confusion, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will finally hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 9 in Mumbai. The AGM will be crucial as the Indian Board, under president Shashank Manohar, continue their image building and reform process. (N. Srinivasan's Future, Image Make-over on BCCI AGM's Agenda)

The AGM will also make N Srinivasan nervous as it will decide whether he will be retained as India's representative as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). If one has to look at the current mood in the BCCI under Manohar, things are not looking good for Srinivasan as the board continues their mission of cleaning up the system.

The latest indication of Srinivasan's reducing clout in the board is the resignation of Indian Premier League (IPL) COO Sundar Raman on November 3. When Manohar took charge as BCCI president for the second time on October 4, he had expressed his displeasure over the BCCI's decision to retain Raman after his name cropped up in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Raman's resignation is an indication that the BCCI are systematically moving towards eliminating Srinivasan's influence in the board.

Ahead of the meeting, there are also reports that the BCCI is mulling changing its nomination vis-a-vis ICC and name Manohar as the new chairman till the next Annual Conference of the world cricketing body in June 2016. Srinivasan, who took over as ICC chairman in June 2014, has seven months until his tenure ends but with the BCCI looking determined to reduce Srinivasan's influence, this move could potentially take place.

Recently, Cricket Australia replaced Wally Edwards with David Peever, the new chairman of Cricket Australia and the country's representative to the ICC in October. Edwards was part of the big three, along with Srinivasan and England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke, who had proposed reforms regarding the restructuring of the ICC.

With all these developments, the Srinivasan regime, both in the BCCI and his clout in the ICC, could be on the way out when the AGM takes place.

Selectors and Conflict of Interest

Another interesting point in the AGM Agenda on Sunday could be the revamping of the selection panel and the appointment of an ethics officer to monitor conflict of interest issues.

According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, it is understood that the BCCI top brass is convinced about bringing in new faces into the selection panel ahead of the World Twenty20 that will take place in India in March, 2016. There are reports that Mohinder Amarnath, who was part of the national selection panel in 2011/12, could make a surprise return as chief selector.

Amarnath, who was tipped to be the chief selector in 2012, was dropped in controversial circumstances as he wanted Mahendra Singh Dhoni to resign after eight consecutive overseas defeats.

With regards to conflict of interest issue, under Manohar, the Board has put out a clause which states that national coaches and selectors should not be associated with any private coaching academies or with player management company or player agent, even in honorary capacity, or pen newspaper columns or be contracted with print or electronic media during their tenure. Selectors should also not be a member of any managing committee of the BCCI's affiliates. Strict conflict of interest clause has also been proposed for administrators, in both BCCI and its affiliates.

This puts the spotlight on Roger Binny, who is the national selector from the South Zone. Roger's son is Stuart Binny, who features regularly in the Indian team and despite abstaining from discussion or voting whenever his son's selection is discussed over the last three years, it is reported that he might not be offered an extension.

Conclusion

Under Manohar's new regime, Srinivasan's hours in the ICC could be numbered. However, the Tamil Nadu strongman is a master at the art of survival and removing his influence might not be easy. The volatile dynamics in BCCI politics could throw up some surprises. One could even see Srinivasan come out unscathed. The answers will be given on Monday.