With the annual general meeting of the BCCI nearing, speculation over aspirants and contenders for various posts is intensifying.
With the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nearing, speculation over aspirants and contenders for various posts is intensifying.
Much of the suppositions are over the post of treasurer.
With less than two weeks to go for the AGM, there appear to be quite a few candidates interested in handling the finances of the richest cricket board in the world. If the board insiders are to be believed, the AGM could even witness a contest for this post, if not for other positions. Further, the contest could be among three candidates from West Zone — Niranjan Shah, Ajay Shirke and Ravi Sawant.
Leading the list of contenders is Shah, a former BCCI secretary and current West Zone vice-president. He has been tipped to succeed MP Pandove for the post.
With an administrative experience of over three decades, the Saurashtra strongman is believed to have the backing of both presidents — outgoing and incoming, Shashank Manohar and N Srinivasan.
Shah had forged a good working relationship with Srinivasan during his tenure as secretary between 2005 and 2008. The president-elect was the treasurer then.
If Shah is the favourite, Shirke is the dark horse. The Maharashtra industrialist is known to be a no-nonsense and non-controversial candidate, who is believed to have done well for his state. He is also quite close to both Manohar and Srinivasan.
He was a special invitee to the August 15 BCCI meeting, which was Manohar’s last working committee meet. With Pune being an IPL centre, Shirke’s stature in the board also has grown up. It will be difficult to overlook him.
Sawant, the third candidate in the running, is believed to have the blessings of a heavyweight from Maharashtra. The treasurer of the Mumbai Cricket Association had attended quite a few BCCI meetings. He has the backing of a section of the board as well but one is not sure of the impressions of Manohar and Srinivasan on the MCA official.
It is more or less certain that four of the five members of Kris Srikkanth’s selection committee will retain their positions. Barring Yashpal Sharma, the other selectors — Raja Venkat, Surendra Bhave and Narendra Hirwani, besides Srikkanth — will stay on for another year. It is implicit in the agenda of the AGM, which apparently talks of the appointment of the selection committee for the year 2011-12. A new committee will have to be appointed for three years.
As has been reported by this paper, Ranjib Biswal and Anurag Thakur are tipped to take over as secretary and joint-secretary respectively but the tricky issue at the AGM could be the appointment of the chairman of IPL’s governing council.
At this stage, Rajiv Shukla is considered a favourite. Shukla was initially interested in the post of secretary but being a Union minister, it was felt that he would not be able to spend enough time in Mumbai to look after the day-to-day affairs of the board. Shukla might be willing to settle for the IPL post but a section of the board is pushing the name of Manohar for the post. Although, the outgoing president is not willing to take up further responsibility, efforts are on to convince him. A clearer picture will emerge next week.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}