The issue of giving any compensation to chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar for bowing to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s diktat and stopping his newspaper columns was not on the agenda of the BCCI's Working Committee meeting on Sunday. However, there was no bar on the matter being taken up at the meeting if a member wishes to do so, according to BCCI secretary, Niranjan Shah.
"There was no discussion today regarding payment of any compensation to Vengsarkar (when some board members including BCCI chief Sharad Pawar met) as far as I know. It's also not on the agenda of the meeting tomorrow," Shah told reporters, adding, "if a member wishes to bring it up it can be done."
Shah pleaded ignorance on what transpired when Vengsarkar met BCCI Chief Sharad Pawar and president-elect Shashank Manohar this morning.
"You will have to ask Mr Pawar about it," he said.
Vengsarkar, who had threatened to step down from the post if the BCCI did not withdraw some of the restrictions imposed on selectors, got an opportunity to give his views on selection matters at the meeting held at Pawar's residence.
"It was a very good meeting. We discussed a lot of things about Indian cricket and all the other issues. The meeting went very well," Vengsarkar told PTI after the meeting.
Pawar, on his part, sought to downplay the meeting, saying, "whenever I am in Mumbai, I meet Vengsarkar". A top BCCI source said it was a "good meeting" and the chief selector was given a patient hearing.
Guidelines
It remains to be seen whether the Chief selector would succeed in toning down of the guideliness issued to him and his selectorial colleagues - either totally or partially.
Meanwhile, BCCI’s Finance Committee, which met here on Friday, hiked the dearness allowance from Rs 5000 to 10,000 and the travelling allowance from Rs. 7000 to 10,000 for selectors and members.
Among other matters which are to come up at the WC meeting are: ratification of appointment of Indian team coach Gary Kirsten and choosing a new national under-19 coach in place of Lalchand Rajput who has become the national team’s assistant coach for the upcoming tour of Australia.
Passing of budgets for the tour of Australia, the under 19 team’s tour to South Africa and the World Cup in Malaysia and the passing of various sub-committee’s reports, including that of the Finance Committee, are also part of the agenda.
The SGM has been convened to incorporate the formation of the Governing Council of the Indian Premier League headed by BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi who has been appointed as its chairman-cum-commissioner.