CAB floats Dalmiya`s name as interim BCCI chief if Srinivasan quits

Kolkata: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Saturday floated the name of Jagmohan Dalmiya as interim president of the Indian cricket board if N. Srinivasan stepped down, but said it would be game if board vice president Arun Jaitley replaced the incumbent.

However, a top CAB official said it was "opposed" to former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) presidents Sharad Pawar and Shashank Manohar retuning in an interim capacity. Claiming to speak on behalf of all BCCI affiliates in the east Zone, CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey said: "There is no alternative to Dalmiya to run the board transparently. This is the thinking of all BCCI units in the East Zone". Pressure to resign is mounting on Srinivasan, whose son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested by Mumbai Police May 24 for his alleged involvement in spot fixing in the Indian Premier League. Two top BCCI officials, Ajay Shirke (treasurer) and Sanjay Jagdale (secretary), quit Friday night on moral grounds. Earlier Saturday, BCCI vice-president Niranjan Shah said the crisis was getting worse by the day. The BCCI has called an emergency meeting in Chennai on Sunday to discuss the issue. Lashing out against Pawar, who was instrumental in ending Dalmiya`s control over the BCCI, Dey said: "It was during Pawar`s presidency that the deterioration started. Pawar, Manohar, Srinivasan and Lalit Modi had joined hands to throw Dalmiya out of the BCCCI in 2005. "And then, these people gave birth to the IPL. They have brought Indian cricket to the verge of destruction by promoting the scam-ridden IPL which has been fetching crores," said Dey. Describing the present board as a "den of politicians", Dey said: "Principally speaking, we don`t want any political personality to head the BCCI. But if it`s a choice between Jaitley and Pawar, we will back Jaitley". However, a CAB source said with the fast unfolding events in the board, the association could review its stance in a changed situation. "The scenario seems to be changing every hour. We need to tread carefully," he said. IANS