Journalism of Courage
President of Cricket South Africa,Chris Nenzani,is expected to fly down to India soon to sort out the differences between the two boards. It is believed that the itinerary of Indias tour of South Africa,as well as matters surrounding the appointment of Haroon Lorgat as the CEO of CSA will be discussed.
While the priority for Nenzani will be to make sure Indias tour,one that is lucrative for CSA,will take place as planned,the BCCI is keen to learn the identity of the insider,speculated to be president of Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra,who had apparently played a key role in Lorgats appointment. The BCCI had revealed on Wednesday that one of the reasons the South Africa tour was in the balance was because CSA had not followed protocol. The same functionary had also apparently assured CSA that the BCCI would come around to agreeing to the tour schedule that CSA had proposed.
A source in the board confirmed that officials from CSA had met with their counterparts from BCCI early this year to discuss,among other things,the appointment of Lorgat.
Messy issue
They were assured that naming Lorgat who has had his run-ins with the BCCI during his time as the ICC chief as CEO would not put their relationship with the BCCI or the India tour in jeopardy,but this aprroval came from an administrator without consulting the leadership, the BCCI source said.
Also,Lorgat,in his application for the spot of the CEO,had cited a reference from this official,who had told CSA officials that the India tour would not be in danger because there was a change in leadership expected within the BCCI by the time of its AGM on September 29, the source added. The BCCI is expected to punish the official for stepping out of line when Nenzani confirms his name.
Final call
Until and unless they reveal the name formally to us,the status of Indias tour to South Africa remains the same. They have spoken to BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel many times but the situation is the same. They never followed protocol, a BCCI official said. With Srinivasan still to assume office after the Supreme Court barred him from taking up the post as long as the matter is sub-judice,Patel will take the final call on the issue.
