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This article was first published 10 years ago

N Srinivasan and the men who matter in the BCCI

Last updated on: May 31, 2013 12:09 IST


While the calls for Board of Control for Cricket in India president Narayanaswami Srinivasan's resignation get louder by the day, members are split over whether the veteran administrator should continue or go.

The Chennai Super Kings boss is under pressure to quit following his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's alleged involvement in the spot-fixing and betting scandal that hit the just-concluded IPl 6.

The cash-rich Twenty20 extravaganza also saw the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers -- former India Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila -- on May 16, for allegedly taking money to concede a pre-determined number of runs in matches in the tournament.

Chorus for Srinivasan's ouster

Image: Gurunath Meiyappan (centre)
Photographs: Stringer/Reuters

Now, almost a week after Meiyappan's arrest, several BCCI-affiliated associations have joined the chorus for Srinivasan's ouster.

Srinivasan may claim that he has the backing of several members, but the tide seems to be turning as more Board officials are asking him to "stay away" till the investigations are completed.

A three-member BCCI commission, comprising two retired judges, is probing the allegations against Meiyappan separately and Srinivasan has stated that he would have no role in its functioning and the report it will come out with.

While Srinivasan is adamant and insists he will not step down, it is likely that members will call for a meeting to remove him.

So, what happens then?

Srinivasan needs just eight votes to stay on

Image: N Srinivasan
Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

For the impeachment motion process to take place, the BCCI has to first call a Special General Meeting for which a written submission is required from ten or more members.

The total number of votes is 31, of which 30 are members and one the president's (Srinivasan's)

Srinivasan needs just eight votes (one-fourth of the mandate) from 30 to stay on.

Sources said as many as 11 members are backing Srinivasan and they include those from Maharashtra, who are expected to vote in Srinivasan's favour despite their president Ajay Shirke slamming him in public.

The other members who are supporting Srinivasan include the associations of Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana.

Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Baroda, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh are some of the members who are against Srinivasan continuing as BCCI chief, while the remaining 10 members yet to make up their mind include Mumbai, CCI, Hyderabad, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Services, Railways, Services and National Cricket Club.

In the event of voting, if Srinivasan is defeated by more than three-fourths majority (24 votes) he will be ousted.

Srinivasan likes to be in control

Image: N Srinivasan
Photographs: Ritam Banerjee/Getty Images

For this to happen much will depend on how these men that matter in the BCCI act.

N Srinivasan (President)

Naryanaswami Srinivasan took over as BCCI president from Shashank Manohar in 2011 after serving as the Board's secretary and treasurer in a long innings as administrator of the world's most powerful and richest cricket bodies.

The 68-year-old dons multiple caps and is also president of the All India Chess Federation and Tamil Nadu golf federation.

Professionally, he is the managing director of India Cements, who own the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the Indian Premier League.

That Srinivasan likes to be in control is no secret at all. He served as president of the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1996 to 1998 and is also a member of the Executive Committee of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Interestingly, among other things, Srinivasan was Sheriff of Madras for two terms during the period 1989 to 1991.

Shetty was BCCI's first paid official

Image: Professor Ratnakar Shetty
Photographs: Ritam Banerjee/Getty Images

Sanjay Jagdale (Secretary)

Sanjay Jagdale, who played first class cricket for Madhya Pradesh, serves as the secretary of the BCCI.

Jagdale, 62, is also a former national selector from Central Zone. He played 53 first class matches for MP from 1968 to 1983 between taking the plunge into cricket administration.

He also has gone on a couple tours as manager of the Indian cricket team, for the 2007 World Cup and to Sri Lanka in 2005.

Anurag Thakur (Joint-secretary)

Anurag Thakur is relatively young at 38 but occupies an important position in the BCCI as the joint-secretary.

He is also serving as Member of Parliament after having won the Lok Sabha elections in 2008 from Hamipur in Himachal Pradesh for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

His father, Prem Kumar Dhumal, is a former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Backed by a politically powerful father, Thakur entered into cricket administration at an early age and took over as Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president at 25, becoming the youngest to do so.

Thakur was instrumental in building a world class stadium at Dharamsala, now a regular fixture for IPL matches; it also hosted a One-Day International.

The other important positions he has occupied are executive member of the Indian Olympic Association, general secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association and Hockey Himachal Pradesh, president of the state rifle association of HP.

Ajay Shirke (Treasurer)

Ajay Shirke is the treasurer of the BCCI and also serves as president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.

Ratnakar S Shetty (CAO)

Ratnakar Shetty has been associated with the BCCI for many years now. He was BCCI's first paid official when he was named Chief Administrative Officer in 2006. He has served the BCCI in various roles including joint-secretary.

He was the tournament director for the 2011 50-overs World Cup, which was hosted jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Shetty also looks after the Mumbai Cricket Association in the role of vice-president.

Jaitley tipped as the favourite to replace Srinivasan

Image: Arun Jaitley
Photographs: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Vice-presidents

The BCCI has five vice-presidents representing the five zones from around the country -- North Zone, Central, West, East and South.

Niranjan Shah (West Zone)

Niranjan Shah played only 12 first class matches for Saurashtra but has served Indian cricket with great distinction as an administrator in various posts ranging from secretary to treasurer to his current post of vice-president.

He was first elected secretary of Saurashtra Cricket Association in 1972-73 and since then has been unchallenged for the said post.

Shah was elected as BCCI joint-secretary in 1992-93 before taking over as secretary in 2001-02 and again in 2005. He was elected unopposed as secretary again in 2006.

Arun Jaitley (North Zone)

Arun Jaitley is a prominent name in Indian politics and has been involved cricket for many years.

He is currently serving as the president of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and is also the vice-president of BCCI from the North Zone.

Jaitley is being tipped as the favourite to replace N Srinivasan as the next president of BCCI.

N Shivlal Yadav (South Zone)

Shivlal Yadav is one of the rare senior administrators in cricket, who has played substantial international cricket.

Yaday, who played 35 Tests and seven ODIs for India between 1979-86, is the vice-president of Hyderabad Cricket Association and occupies the same post in the BCCI.

Sudhir Dabir (Central Zone)

Vidarbha Cricket Association's (VCA) Sudhir Dabir is the second vice-president from Vidarbha after Shashank Manohar, who went on to become BCCI president.

Dabir also worked in the BCCI Finance Committee when Sharad Pawar was the Board chief.

Chitrak Mitra (East Zone)

Chitrak Mitra is a BCCI vice-president from East Zone. He is also the chairman Vizzy Trophy Committee and Ex-Officio member of the Working Committee.