Board crumbles. Ab tera kya hoga Srinivasan?

dna had reported on Thursday that a rebellion was brewing against BCCI boss N Srinivasan. Friday’s events suggest that it isn’t merely a rebellion: top members of cricket’s richest, most influential, board have declared war on their president.

They want him out — and are willing to quit if that is what it takes to make him leave.

Ajay Shirke had on Thursday told dna he would resign. On Friday not just he, but BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale also put in his papers. “I am deeply hurt by the recent developments in Indian cricket. I thought it’s better to get out so that some new faces come in and deal with it in a better way,” said Jagdale.

dna has learned that five BCCI vice-presidents were also contemplating quitting, although official confirmation was awaited at the time of going to print.

The five VPs are Arun Jaitley, Chitrak Mitra (he was quoted as saying he wouldn’t step down), Shivlal Yadav, Sudhir Dabir and Niranjan Shah. In a tell-tale sign of intrigue in the making, each of these men had turned off their cell phones on Friday evening.

Jagdale’s resignation has straightforward implications: he was part of the three-member panel set up to probe the fixing/betting scandal. The two other members are Tamil Nadu judges, one of whose connections with Srinivasan’s India Cements is the subject of much speculation. That Jagdale wasn’t consulted on his appointment to the panel — the most thankless job to have opened up in Indian cricket in recent times — was the last straw.

With Jagdale stepping down, the responsibilities of secretary pass to the joint secretary (Anurag Thakur). But the dominos keep falling: dna understands that Anurag Thakur had told a confidant that he would be the first to step down on Saturday.

Thakur has been having serious discussions with his senior BJP colleague Arun Jaitley over the last few days. “I have spoken to Mr Srinivasan and the secretary, Sanjay Jagdale, and requested them to call a meeting as soon as possible where all members should get a chance to speak their mind,” Thakur said on Friday.

dna has learnt that Thakur, Jaitley and Rajeev Shukla were also concerned about their “shattered image”.

As things stand, there isn’t much shattering left to be done. It is at precisely these times that politicians step in. Sharad Pawar has already evinced interest in the top BCCI job (the Mumbai Cricket Association presidentship is a stepping stone, which he will plant his larger than life foot on very soon). However, it is the Congress party that has taken the lead in criticising the goings on in Indian cricket. The BJP, possibly because of Arun Jailtley’s own interest in the top job, has been a little muted.

“Though, there was unanimity within the BJP members currently in the BCCI that Srinivasan must step aside till the inquiry report is submitted, the fear of September elections was holding them back,” said a BJP insider. Now that Thakur has spoken out, however, the party thinking seems to be out in the open.

What happens if everyone resigns? More importantly, who can take over from Srinivasan?
The usual suspects, like Pawar may come into play only at election time in September, but till then, the names doing the rounds are those of Shashank Manohar, former president, and Shivlal Yadav, the former Indian off-spinner. Problem is, even Yadav is likely to quit.

Srinivasan has, from all accounts, run the board with scant regard for the opinions of others. Over the next few days, he is looking at a one-man board. Something tells us that he relishes that thought, but it is unlikely that he can make it a reality.