BCCI likely to withdraw court plea about Srinivasan

In a sudden turn of events, it appears the BCCI is likely to withdraw its application to the Supreme Court seeking clarification over the legality of ICC chairman N Srinivasan's presence in its meetings.

Should the board withdraw its plea, it will bring an automatic end to Srinivasan's counter-case - via a reply to the board's petition - accusing BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur of perjury. Both cases were scheduled to come up for hearing on Monday.

It had earlier emerged that BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, vice-president TC Mathew and Kerala Cricket Association joint secretary Jayesh George were asked at the SGM to withdraw their affidavits supporting Srinivasan's perjury case. Manohar said the issue was discussed "informally after the meeting was over and it was sorted out."

These developments, it is understood, came about after newly elected president Shashank Manohar stressed the need for the BCCI to be united and extended an olive branch to the Srinivasan camp. Manohar is also learnt to have said there was no need for the application in the first place.

"As far as Srinivasan is concerned I have no stand because if he attends the board meetings, he would be dealt like any other member of the board," Manohar said at his first press conference in Mumbai. "Whatever decision is to be taken will be taken at the meeting.

"We are not working here with a vindictive attitude. All 30 members including the Tamil Nadu Association said we have to work together and build the image of the board and not fight among ourselves," Manohar said. Thakur had spoken along similar lines on Saturday, promising there would no "vendetta" against anybody.

Manohar also praised Srinivasan, calling him "the best secretary after Mr [Jagmohan] Dalmiya".

"I can tell you with 100% [certainty] that Srinivasan was an excellent secretary," Manohar, who had been president during Srinivasan's tenure as secretary, said. "He was better than most of the secretaries I have seen in this board. After I left the board in 2011, I don't know what happened in day to day things, I was not in touch."

Srinivasan's camp, which didn't appear very optimistic on this count in the lead-up to the BCCI special general meeting on Sunday, confirmed the patch-up but remained cautious. "All the issues have been sorted," one member said. "Shashank himself has assured us [that the case would be withdrawn], but let's wait and see what they do tomorrow. The BCCI has to make the first move."

The source said that Manohar and MCA president Sharad Pawar had spoken to PS Raman, TNCA's representative at the SGM, before the meeting and assured him that there were no "anti-Srini" feelings. The message from the Srinivasan camp is that the truce "sends the correct message to all international boards" and that "it is important for the BCCI's image."

While it's premature to speculate on what this would mean for the BCCI or how long this patch-up would last, it appears the decks could have been cleared for Srinivasan's continuance as ICC chairman in exchange for Manohar having free reign in the BCCI. Should Srinivasan serve out the two-year term, he will be ICC chairman til June 2016.

Also in the realm of conjecture are the reasons behind the sudden reconciliation. There are suggestions that the perjury case must have forced Manohar and the BCCI's hand, and Manohar's intervention effectively stopped the board secretary and treasurer from engaging each other in legal battle.