CHENNAI: On his first full day in Chennai after Thursday’s Supreme Court verdict, N Srinivasan was busy meeting officials from select quarters to plot his next step. There was no decision and maintaining that detaching him from Chennai Super Kings will be difficult, people in the loop sought time.
Those sniffing their chance too held informal meetings, although there was no clarity on who could be the next suitable man. They said much would depend on Arun Jaitley, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Various names are doing the rounds, but things won’t be finalised until consulting the finance minister.
Srinivasan held meetings to discuss the India Cements angle at business level and it was learnt that BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel was also in town. Even if it’s possible, the process of working out a magic formula involves official and legal complications.
More than the BCCI president’s chair could be at stake and sources said decisions won’t be taken in haste. They felt CSK is a huge brand and if something has to be done, all possibilities will be considered. Despite the six-week deadline before which the BCCI AGM has to be held, they are in no hurry.
Board members in other parts of the country want to see what happens before coming out in the open. Some are of the opinion time and other factors are against Srinivasan. Apart from getting papers in order if that’s possible, the Chennai Czar also has to garner support at a time when his team’s image has suffered a blow. This includes approval from the BCCI working committee and IPL governing council.
Asked if Srinivasan’s arguments in favour of seeking reelection as president in the wake of all that has happened will be strong enough, a working committee member said, “It’ll be difficult. The BCCI’s image has suffered because of all this for close to two years. If members think a change is needed to get things back in order, they might think on those lines. After the court order, things have got tougher for Srinivasan,” he said.
Others are saying the combined task is impossible. For them, it’s a question of who’s next and despite names like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar and Rajeev Shukla in the air, they think Jaitley will have a say. “He isn’t available in the next few days. But when he is, nothing will be finalised without consulting Jaitley. Until then, everything is speculation. There is uncertainty and given his stature, he is someone everybody has to consult,” said a former BCCI official.