Patel may stay on as secretary, question mark over Savant

Chennai: While he remains determined to hold onto to his hot seat, under-fire N Srinivasan is mulling over making some changes in his team as he gears up for a stormy third year in office as the BCCI president.

While Srinivasan is all set to file his nomination as the BCCI president for a third term and has already got a proposer and a seconder from the South Zone, there are chances that he might make some changes among the executive functionaries. While interim secretary Sanjay Patel may get a full term, there is a big question mark over whether Mumbai Cricket Association president Ravi Savant would continue as the treasurer. As of now there are some indications that Srinivasan might go in for a new treasurer who would replace Savant. "Srinivasan is very satisfied in the manner Sanjay (Patel) has performed his duties as the secretary. The Baroda- based businessman has helped Srinivasan in a critical time and also openly supported Srinivasan on all forums. Therefore the president thinks that he (Patel) deserves to be rewarded. However there is a distinct possibility that Ravi Savant might have to relinquish his position as treasurer," a senior BCCI official who is currently in Chennai for the AGM told PTI over phone. Asked about the names doing the rounds as possible replacement, the official said, "There is a chance that it will be someone from the south zone which has helped Srini control the BCCI. So it won`t be surprising if someone from South Zone gets treasurer`s post." Andhra Cricket Association secretary Gokaraju Gangaraju, Kerala CA`s TC Mathew`s name is also doing the rounds. Srinivasan also has a lot of backing from the East Zone and so someone from that region might also emerge as dark horse. While no one wants to come on record, there is a school of thought in the BCCI that Savant might not be able to stop union minister Sharad Pawar from making a comeback in the Mumbai Cricket Association? One of the most influential units which holds a lot of clout in BCCI politics. PTI