N Srinivasan to contest BCCI polls

Srinivasan made it clear that he would contest for the top job at BCCI elections on September 29.

N Srinivasan made it clear that he would contest for the top job at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) elections on September 29 in Chennai,despite a few members being opposed to the idea. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s president stepped aside in June as the BCCI chief and let former president Jagmohan Dalmiya take over the day-to-day work. However,Srinivasan chaired the meeting of the disciplinary committee held in Delhi earlier this month.

On the sidelines of the board’s marketing committee meeting,Srinivasan is said to have told board members that he has the full backing of the associations from the south. As per the Board’s regulations,it’s the turn of south zone to propose and second the name of the president for the third year but the candidate they support can be from outside that zone.

A member in the BCCI,who attended the meeting,said Srinivasan has backing of Karnataka,Tamil Nadu,Kerala,Hyderabad and Andhra Cricket Association,which would ease his passage back into the administrative fold.

Story continues below this ad

As per the BCCI rules,any candidate contesting election needs to have a proposer and a seconder from his zone. In south zone’s case if Srinivasan has got undertakings (of support) from five associations,then he will automatically be reinstated, a source said.

Though Srinivasan is said to have the support of most of the associations from the south,there are a few dissenting voices. A top Goa Cricket Association (GCA) official said the body was against Srinivasan’s come back. I’m still hopeful that some opposition (against Srinivasan) will develop over a period of time. I also believe that the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA),too,will vote against the incumbent if there’s a viable opposition and it has the adequate number (to bring in a change). But if there’s no opposition against Srinivasan then we will have no option but to go with the tide. The BCCI has the power to reward. It also has the power to damage. So we want to keep our cards close, the GCA office bearer said. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary Javagal Srinath too said they were undecided.

Search for title sponsor

In the absence of Farooq Abdulla,chairman of marketing committee,Srinivasan chaired the convention,which invited tenders for the title sponsorship rights for BCCI’s international and domestic matches for the period between October 2013 and 31st March 2014. Bharti Airtel,the previous title sponsor,did not wish to renew the contract.

The BCCI has fixed the base price for the bid as Rs 2 crore per match with the bidders given an option of forming a consutium. Bidders can also bid for sepcific series and if interested than they can renew their contract till 2018. The marketing committee has decided that they are ready to give rights of buying three formats to separate corporates if they bid the highest price.

(With inputs from PTI)

Hamas under pressure to respond to Gaza peace plan as Trump says will give ‘three or four days’

Trump gives Hamas 3-4 days to accept Gaza peace plan, with a warning

8 hr ago

US President Donald Trump has given a tight deadline to Hamas for accepting his Gaza peace plan, warning of a “sad end” if if they refuse to accept the conditions. Palestinian militant group Hamas is yet undecided on whether to accept the peace deal proposed by US President Donald Trump on Monday.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS