For avid BCCI watchers, Friday’s developments would have put them on a sticky wicket, throwing up many questions and conundrums.
Is N. Srinivasan a winner or loser following the adjournment of the Working Committee meeting which prevented him from being re-instated as president? Is there now patent evidence of a power-struggle brewing which will reach its climax in the AGM in end-September?
More significantly perhaps, is the purpose of filing decision a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court to vacate the order of the Bombay High Court against the original two-member panel appointed to probe spot-fixing charges to buy time or regain credibility?
Given the track record of the BCCI over the past two or three decades, the most brilliant logician would be driven insane in analyzing how it functions. There are wheels within wheels — and if you can unravel this far you are likely to find more wheels. But let me give it a shot at addressing the issues listed above.
The adjournment of the Working Committee’s meeting would normally have been construed as a major setback for N Srinivasan, except that along with this comes reiteration of support for the two-judge panel that had been appointed by the IPL Governing Council.
This suggests dissent within the BCCI against Srinivasan but also that he was unwilling to be steamrolled into submission. While his reinstatement was delayed he has sought — and found — support for the probe measures that was taken so that he is not isolated later.
Nevertheless, the cancellation of the meeting shows that cracks within the BCCI are widening. Indeed, contours of a rival faction is now getting clearer definition and could lead to a virtual split down the middle come September when the AGM is due.
Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke had resigned as secretary and treasurer earlier. Last week, vice president Niranjan Shah became vocal in his criticism of Srinivasan wanting to resume as president despite the Bombay High Court strictures.
Though indirectly, Srinivasan has alluded to these and other developments adverse to him as the schemings of former BCCI president Sharad Pawar who reportedly wants to make a comeback into the board.
Elsewhere, another former president I.S. Bindra has been taking pot-shots at Srinivasan ever since the latter got Jagmohan Dalmiya (also a former president and Bindra’s sworn adversary) as an interim boss till the spot-fixing probe was completed.
Ironically, Srinivasan and Pawar were rather thick not too long back. In fact, when India Cements (the company owned by Srinivasan) was inducted into the IPL by an amendment of the constitution, Pawar was BCCI president! But politics, as we know, makes for strange bedfellows.
Who knows, tomorrow we could see a completely fresh alignment to challenge the current dispensation. Or that all constituents and factions unite again miraculously!
Simply put, the cricket board is a maze in which ambition, greed (for power and money) as also — let’s not be one-dimensional — some love for the game are played out behind the veil of the BCCI being a private body which should concern nobody else.
But since Indian cricket is (projected as) a massive 5 billion dollar industry that engages a billion-plus Indians across the globe that argument, while legally true, becomes practically untenable. Now it’s been hit by a scandal of alleged corruption at the highest level.
This is why I feel that willy-nilly, the decision of the governing council to file a SPL in the Supreme Court is the best possible scenario in the current situation Cricket fans, disillusioned, cynical, concerned or confused are no longer willing to buy the BCCI’s methods.
A rising wave of adverse public (and legal opinion) has also made the BCCI’s functionaries vulnerable and insecure, not to mention battered reputations. They realize they cannot get away with petty-fogging any longer.
The apex court’s decision would be palatable to all because it would hopefully put things in perspective. The crucial thing now is the restoration of credibility and trust in Indian cricket which has taken a serious beating.
Whether Srinivasan — who has been demonized in the media — will emerge stronger or weaker is then of considerably less importance.