The countdown to filing nominations for seven posts in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already begun but most key players are adopting a wait-and-watch policy.
The deadline will expire at 3pm on Monday but much will depend on the meeting in Mumbai on Sunday where all 30 state representatives on the final electoral roll are expected to be present. The meeting will finalise the names of the five office-bearers — president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer — along with a councillor and two governing council members to be elected by the general body.
An influential minister in the Narendra Modi government is calling the shots but former BCCI president and Union minister of state (finance) Anurag Thakur is the go-to man when it comes to interacting with various associations.
According to The Telegraph’s sources, the “informal meeting” on Sunday has been called at the initiative of Thakur and another former BCCI president N. Srinivasan, who may not be present in person.
While Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rajat Sharma enjoys the backing of the influential Union minister as a presidential candidate, there are many who feel Sourav Ganguly should have a role to play in the new set-up.
The former India captain doesn’t have too many backers at the Centre, though at least four Northeast units want him to represent the zone.
Those in the know of things say two things are not working in the Cricket Association of Bengal president’s favour. First, Sourav’s term ends in July next and he will then have to go into the compulsory cooling-off period and second, he’s considered to be not very close to the powers-that-be.
“We don’t want a situation where the president cannot be in the chair till September next, when the AGM will be due. Since this will be the first AGM after 2015, we want a proper system in place,” said a well-placed source.
But an important Northeast member said: “If Sourav is among the office-bearers, there will be someone to present our case.”
Many feel that BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, who will represent Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh’s Arun Singh Dhumal, brother of Anurag Thakur, could also emerge as strong contenders. Brijesh Patel enjoys the backing for the secretary’s post.
Much will also depend on the eight associations who were disqualified on Thursday for being “non-compliant”. Some of the associations are set to move the Supreme Court on Monday and that could also decide the fate of the AGM on October 23.