MUMBAI: Until Tuesday evening, the BCCI was at wits end trying to resist Shashank Manohar's plan in bring about a flurry of reforms at the International Cricket Council (ICC). On Thursday morning, the cricket board woke up to a fresh headache -whether to propose a name from India for the top job at the ICC or not.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) won't mind proposing a name. However, if they do propose, it will have to be of an individual who is willing to provide an undertaking that his state association will implement the Lodha Panel reforms. “Take it or leave it,“ is the CoA's line.
The three potential candidates for the post, in that order, are N Srinivasan,
Anurag Thakur and
Sharad Pawar.
Outside of India, Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Thilanga Sumathipala has thrown his hat in the ring to replace Manohar.Elsewhere, old hands Giles Clarke (England) and Wally Edwards (Australia) are aspirants too. In faraway New Zealand, former ICC president Alan Issacs may want to walk out of the woodwork once again.
The CoA doesn't seem to be overly worried. Their logic: “Why should the CoA propose a name? SC mandate is to make state associations implement Lodha reforms, not propose names for ICC.“
There's time until June to propose names, when the ICC will host its annual conference. Until then, the least CoA can do is hear out professionals who understand how things work.