If Vengsarkar is compensated, then compensate us too: Shah

The former Indian captain looked pleased with the meeting and said: “It was a very good meeting. We discussed a lot of things about Indian cricket and all the other issues. It went very well.”

If a top BCCI official is to be believed, then a compromise could still be worked out by the two sides. Vengsarkar may not get the compensation for the financial loss he suffers by not writing his newspaper columns, but the board might dilute the code of conduct set for selectors.

According to the present code of conduct, the selectors are not allowed to enter the dressing room, cannot travel with the team and cannot address the press after selection meetings.

Vengsarkar had earlier offered to resign due to the curbs put on him and according to the BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla, the final decision on the issue will come out at tomorrow’s meeting.

However, BCCI secretary Niranjhan Shah told The Indian Express that the Vengsarkar issue will not be the main agenda in the day’s meeting. “If any member raises it, then we will discuss this issue, otherwise we will discuss other topics,” said Shah, while downplaying the stand-off.

Asked about Shukla’s comment that Vengsarkar would be compensated, Shah said: “I haven’t heard of this. How can you talk of compensation when the board already has certain rules? As far as I know, the compensation part will be not there and if he (Vengsarkar) is getting compensated, then compensate us too as we are also working hard in our capacities.”

The agenda tomorrow includes a compensation package for the selectors, finalising the constitutional structure of the newly formed Indian Premier League and confirming the appointments of India coach Gary Kirsten and the National Cricket Academy’s director of operations Dav Whatmore.

Even Pawar preferred to remain silent when he was asked about what transpired during today’s meeting. “Whenever I come to Mumbai, I meet Vengsarkar. So far I don’t have any answers to your question,” he quipped.