BCCI puts sub-committee meetings on hold

The BCCI has cancelled or deferred two major sub-committee meetings in the last week. The move is understood to be an attempt to avoid confrontation with some of the member representatives till N Srinivasan decides his future course of action.

According to a Srinivasan confidante, the BCCI top brass doesn't want any of the member representatives to ask tough questions before Srinivasan decides his next step. Srinivasan, whose aspirations to continue as BCCI president virtual knockout blow from India's Supreme Court in January, is understood to be exploring if there is a way out for him legally. He has also been in touch with Arun Jaitley - a former BCCI vice-president and an influential federal minister and seasoned member of India's principal ruling party, the BJP - who will play a key role in deciding on Srinivasan's replacement, should the need arise.

It is likely that at least 25 member representatives, including BJP-ruled state representatives and Srinivasan loyalists, could meet informally in Chennai to finalise the future course of action. Also, a working committee may also be convened on February 10 to formally give notice of the AGM; as per the court directive on January 22, the BCCI's AGM will have to be held on or before March 5 and since the BCCI rulebook requires at least 21 days' notice for the AGM to be called, the BCCI working committee will have to meet latest by February 12 to finalise the date and venue.

Among the meetings pushed back are a couple concerning the IPL. A day before the Supreme Court's order, the BCCI had directed the marketing committee to meet on February 3 to awarding internet rights for IPL 2015. Earlier in the week, the BCCI postponed the meeting of the marketing committee, which is one of its largest sub-committees, to February 10. A couple of days after the court order was issued, the BCCI had set up an IPL governing council meeting for February 3, to finalise the nitty-gritty of the player auction. It is understood that the IPL governing council were consulted via teleconferences before the auction date of February 16 was made official on Friday.