MUMBAI, 5 January 2007 — The man who could win, by a landslide, his Parliament seat, without as much as visiting his constituency even once, has had to struggle to beat one man in an electorate of mere 30.
That is Sharad Pawar and the indefinable jinx that dogged him, as he decided to have a shot at the BCCI presidential race. After three attempts, he finally won it last year, when he ousted the indefatigable Jagmohan Dalmiya under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed adjudicator.
The last 15 months, however, have not been as smooth-sailing as might have been anticipated, considering the steam-roller majority that the Pawar group commands. On the one side, was the new regime’s preoccupation with the persecution of the previous president, on the other, it was the rising public temper over Indian team’s one dismal performance after another.
With this background and several matters still far from settled, Pawar is aspiring to conquer the International Cricket Council and becomes its next president. He used the recent meeting at his residence in New Delhi to rope in the support of three other boards in sub-continent, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Just as Dalmiya and Pakistan’s Ehsan Mani after him, had done, Pawar is banking on what is being described as “the power of the Asian bloc” and likely support from other friendly members. India also enjoys considerable goodwill of the group of associate members.
If that works out, Dennis Morgan of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will be left with just three or four votes, including that of England itself, Australia and New Zealand.
It is no secret that the BCCI is providing the West Indies Board tremendous support to help make the World Cup a big success. Almost 80 per cent of sponsorship and other financial deals are going to the West Indies from India, besides, a lot of help has gone for the development of infrastructure. Pawar’s candidature is seen mainly as a projection of the strength of the Asian group in the ICC. It is not important whether he is a person best qualified to contest for the post.
What is important is whether Pawar will be able to devote enough time and energy to the assignment, given his political and ministerial responsibilities, as well the state of his health.
These may not be of immediate concern, as the ICC presidential election will be held only next July and the new president will take over not before the middle of 2009. The present incumbent, South Africa’s Percy Sonn, still has two years to go. So, a lot can happen between now and then.
