Srinivasan to not contest BCCI elections

Antagonized Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president-in exile, N Srinivasan, on Friday, issued an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court of India for chairing BCCI's working committee meeting on February 8th after the country's top court of justice made it clear on Monday that it was not happy with Srinivasan defying court orders.

In a landmark judgement passed in late January, the Supreme Court had ordered Srinivasan, BCCI President-in exile, to stay away from the workings of the board until he was cleared of the 'conflict of interest' charges. "He (Srinivasan) might have done great service to the game. But after our judgement his position is vulnerable," the court had said on Monday.

While tendering the apology, Srinivasan's counsel, Kapil Sibal also told the Supreme Court that the his client would not participate in the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for March 2 where Srinivasan was originally scheduled to seek re-election to his presidential post. However, Srinivasan may still attend the meeting and cast his vote in the elections as a member. He is currently the president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, a position he has used to chair recent meetings.

After Friday's court proceedings, Srinivasan's position as BCCI President - he was in exile during the hearing of the spot-fixing case - effectively comes to a close. It is not clear whether he would nominate a proxy President to contest the elections on his behalf. According to reports, Sanjay Patel, BCCI secretary and a close aid of Srinvasan's, could file his nominations for the post of President. Other names like that of former President Jagmohan Dalmiya and vice-president Rajeev Shukla have also been thrown into the hat. The fact that it's the turn of East Zone to elect the next president strengthens Dalmiya's chances.

With two day's of politicking left before the crucial elections, the jostle for positions has already started. The Sharad Pawar-led rival camp, who requested the Prime Minister of India's intervention in the BCCI elections on Thursday, have reportedly convinced Pawar to represent the Mumbai Cricket Association in the BCCI AGM with an official confirmation of the same supposedly having already been sent to the board.