Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: The BCCI’s much anticipated AGM is over and as expected N Srinivasan is no more India’s representative in the ICC, losing his much coveted chairman’s post. Many are seeing this development as the end of the Srinivasan era in Indian cricket. But knowing the man, the pride that he has, Srini will not take this rebuff dying down.
Srini has said ‘I will concentrate from now on my cement business and try and increase my handicap in golf’. But that is just a ploy to confuse his opponents. He will definitely try and make a comeback when the term of the present office-bearers expire in 2017.
Srini still has five-six loyalists within the BCCI top brass. It is they who opposed when Sharad Pawar’s name was proposed as Srinivasan’s replacement to the ICC. A couple of them stated that they had no objection to present BCCI president Shashank Manohar or secretary Anurag Thakur representing India in the ICC, but felt that it would be wrong to nominate Pawar as he is not an office-bearer within the BCCI.. It was a ploy that worked and they got whole-hearted support from at least 12 others during the AGM conducted Monday.
To completely eradicate Srinivasan’s influence from within the BCCI, the present people in power will first have to get rid of the officials appointed by him to run the daily administration functions of the office e.g Ratnakar Shetty. Secondly, those affiliated units that still pledge their support for the ex-boss will have to be told in no uncertain terms that they can’t do so. And if they continue doing so, then they will suffer in some way or the other.
It is a fact that the present ‘men in power’ have zeroed in on those who attended the meeting that Srinivasan conducted in Bangalore just before the BCCI general elections. But they are yet to be informed about the consequences they face, if they continue to support the ousted Srini.
That turns the attention to the Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) which has steadfastly albeit quietly continued to hold Srini in high esteem. The net result is there for everyone to see. Not a single match of the T20 Worlds has been allotted to Cuttack and the Barabati Stadium has also lost its Test status. OCA president Ranjib Biswal, should also realise that when he was the most deserving candidate to don the BCCI secretary’s hat, his godfather Srini deprived him. So there would be nothing wrong if he moves in with the other lobby. The OCA would benefit and with it the state cricketers. Being close to the conductor of an orchestra always helps – you get to play the lead music.
Bottomline however, is you can sideline Srini, but just can’t write him off.