Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar was over the moon when the Supreme Court proposed that he replace N Srinivasan as BCCI president. "It's difficult for me to say anything at this stage. If the highest court in India asks you to do something, it will be an honour to accept," the legendary batsman told a news channel. The Mumbaikar, who seeks pride in his achievements as an opening batsman (he has every right to), added: "As an opening batsman, one has to be ready for all challenges. I will do anything to the best of my ability."
Here's the bad news. The BCCI will do all it can to oppose Gavaskar's candidature in court on Friday. The reasons are obvious. Gavaskar is on the BCCI's payroll. He makes a cool Rs 3.6 crore every year (as does Ravi Shastri) for commentary work. The BCCI is registered as a charitable trust (funny, isn't it?) and if Gavaskar were to be its president (trustee), how can he be paid. All BCCI officials work in an honorary capacity.
A senior BCCI official said, "How can Gavaskar take over as president. The Supereme Court can't ignore the fact that the BCCI has a constitution. Only an office-bearer or vice-president can take over as president. Gavaskar is an outsider. He has no administrative experience. He doesn't belong to any association," he thundered.
The SC made it amply clear that it wants Gavaskar or any other senior cricketer of repute to replace N Srinivasan. It is reliably learnt that if push comes to shove, the BCCI may propose the name of Anil Kumble, who has served as president of Karnataka State Cricket Association. Alas, what the BCCI doesn't realise is that the SC has sweeping powers. And it's taken upon itself to clean up the mess.
Late on Thursday, Gavaskar told a news agency that being recommended for post of BCCI chief "is probably the greatest honour I have received". But he also added that nobody from the BCCI had contacted him. Nothing surprising there.
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