BCCI likely to nominate N Srinivasan for ICC post

CHENNAI/MUMBAI: Almost a year after he was replaced as the ICC chairman, talks are gaining momentum that TNCA president N Srinivasan could return to the sport's governing body. Though it could not be confirmed, it has emerged that the former BCCI boss remains one of the frontrunners to be named as the board's representative on the ICC's board of directors.It was learnt that the

nomination of Srinivasan is being backed by current BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke - who is likely to be re-elected for the post during the 87th AGM in Mumbai on Wednesday. The BCCI top brass had visited Srinivasan earlier this month and the meeting has turned out to be a game-changer. In the last few weeks, Thakur and ICC chairman Shashank Manohar have not been on the same page.

What will also dominate the AGM are the twin problems of dealing with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee and the International Cricket Council (ICC), specifically its chairman Shashank Manohar.

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA?

To adopt the annual budget for the year 2016-17

To appoint auditors for the year 2016-17 and fix their remuneration

To elect the BCCI secretary

To elect the Working Committee, Standing Committee, and Special committees for the year 2016-17

To consider matters relating to affiliation/disaffiliation/promotion/readmission, if any

To appoint an ombudsman

To appoint the board's representative in the ICC/ACC

With president Thakur and Shirke and other key officials of the board slated to attend the celebratory dinner on the occasion of India's landmark 500th Test in Kanpur on Wednesday night, the annual meeting, which will begin at 11 am, may not last too long. Getting to Kanpur from Mumbai isn't very easy and hence most members would like the meeting to be short.

Over the last few days, top board officials have spared no words in criticising Manohar, with Thakur even saying that "he (Manohar) abandoned a sinking ship for his ICC aspirations". The grudge against the former BCCI chief is he hasn't helped his previous organisation in tackling the Lodha crisis, and is denying India its due in the ICC revenues by killing the 'Big Three' formula.

There are reports that ex-ICC and board chief, and current Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president, Sharad Pawar, who hosted a pre-AGM dinner for all the members on Tuesday, may be asked to persuade the Vidarbha strongman to be more 'cooperative' with the board.

At the AGM, the BCCI is set to elect its representatives for the ICC meetings, who are likely to be Thakur and Shirke. With the Lodha Committee recommendations hanging over its head, the meeting might just prove to be a damp squib, unless the top mandarins continue to defy the panel and take a few major decisions.

The election of the secretary now is a mere formality as the board on Tuesday said that it hasn't received any other nomination to challenge Shirke. The election for the secretary's post had been made transparent, with justice PB Sawant, a retired SC judge, overlooking the entire process.

Latest Comment

Srini is a very strong representative for BCCI. He will no doubt strengthen BCCI''s hold on ICC once again and it is a very smart move to counter Shashank Manohar''s bad influence. Looking forward to it.

Mir Ali

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Shirke has been in the job since May 22 after Thakur became president and Manohar quit the board. After introducing a novel process to pick selectors, the board may name the new selection panel too. The frontrunners for that job are former India Test players Venkatesh Prasad, Nayan Mongia, Nilesh Kulkarni, Sameer Dighe and Vijay Dahiya. The Lodha Committee had directed on August 31 that the AGM be limited only to "routine business concerning the past year (2015-2016), and that any business or matters relating to the next year (20162017) be dealt with only after the adoption of the Moa and Rules."

The annual meeting's item No 6 & 7, though, are listed as election of the secretary, and of the various committees (including the all-powerful Working Committee). A source in the Lodha panel made it clear that many BCCI officials may have to face jail terms if this election is indeed conducted.