Mumbai: Ranjib Biswal got done in both by ‘outsiders’ and by a couple of the affiliated units (at least) from East, ironically his own Zone.
Sources in key positions have told The Telegraph that fierce opposition from the Jharkhand State Cricket Association and the Tripura Cricket Association went a long way in scuppering Biswal’s chance of becoming the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Instead of Biswal, regarded as the frontrunner till Friday, Sanjay Jagdale, the outgoing joint-secretary, is Narayanswamy Srinivasan’s successor.
That Jagdale had muscled his way into contention was reported in these columns on Sunday. Like Biswal, he’s a former selector and India manager.
According to one source, Jagdale had initially been “reluctant” to become the secretary. He agreed only after much “persuasion.” Apparently, he wasn’t comfortable with the non-cricket work which goes with the job.
There was talk, too, that the Cricket Association of Bengal didn’t want Biswal either. There were whispers about the Assam Cricket Association as well.
Basically, Biswal’s colleagues in East did him no favour.
“Unanimity within East would have helped Biswal... At the same time, Srinivasan (who takes over as president on Monday) probably also felt that Jagdale wouldn’t try and be independent,” another source said.
Yet another remarked somewhat caustically: “Srinivasan will now be both the BCCI’s president and its secretary.”
It couldn’t be confirmed, but the buzz was that outgoing president Shashank Manohar actually backed Jagdale and that hurt Biswal.
One learns that the views of Arun Jaitley, vice-president from North, were taken into account by Srinivasan and Manohar.
Jaitley’s a key player in the BCCI, not just within the BJP. On Sunday, he had breakfast with the Manohars at the ITC Grand Central, then went to Belgaum in a private aircraft to address a political rally, returning around 9 pm.
Jagdale’s elevation prevented Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from becoming the vice-president from Central. Both, after all, are from Madhya Pradesh.
The post became vacant as incumbent Rajeev Shukla, a Union minister as well, is the new chairman of the Indian Premier League. Vidarbha’s Sudhir Dabir has taken Shukla’s place. He’s being seen as Manohar’s nominee.
Scindia (who is overseas), it seems, is somewhat upset. He’s been retained as chairman of the powerful finance committee, though.
As expected, Ajay Shirke and BJP MP Anurag Thakur, a Jaitley protege, move into the chairs reserved for the treasurer and the joint-secretary, respectively, in a few hours.
Meanwhile, Union minister Farooq Abdullah is to continue as chairman of the marketing committee, while another Union minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, has straightaway been given the chairmanship of the media committee.
Deshmukh became the Mumbai Cricket Association president two months ago.
With all office-bearers getting elected unanimously, there won’t be fireworks during Monday’s AGM here. Some heat may, however, be generated over India’s pathetic show in England.
One school of thought is that the BCCI should go back to hiring foreign physios and physical trainers.
THE BCCI’S BIG GUNS
President: Narayanswamy Srinivasan; Vice-presidents: Arun Jaitley (North), Shivlal Yadav (South), Chitrak Mitra (East), Niranjan Shah (West), Sudhir Dabir (Central); Secretary: Sanjay Jagdale; Treasurer: Ajay Shirke; Joint-secretary: Anurag Thakur; IPL chairman: Rajeev Shukla.
Footnote: “Right through my life, I’ve gladly taken on responsibilities... The responsibilities have never changed me as a person or changed my approach,” Shukla pointed out, in an exclusive chat.
