Srinivasan would stay TNCA boss, even without chair

It was just about a month back when N Srinivasan, sitting in his plush India Cements office, told Times of India that he was currently "on a leave" from the BCCI. The Supreme Court verdict on the Lodha committee recommendations was still pending, and the former Board of Control for Cricket in India and International Cricket Council boss probably was hoping that there would be some twists and turns which would make him return from his 'sabbatical' to the mainstream of BCCI politics.

But the Supreme Court verdict on Monday (July 18) clearly states that BCCI is a far-cry, he may well have to quit as the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president, a post that he has held for the past 15 terms. But the man himself, who chose not to be quoted, doesn't see this as the end of the world. According to him and his group, those who wanted to destroy him have been most affected by the Supreme Court verdict.
"Look at the list who stand ineligible to continue -Sharad Pawar, Niranjan Shah, Ashirbab Behra, Gangaraju. Vidarbha doesn't have a vote, NCC doesn't have a vote, government votes are gone. The western block is completely smashed, some of the office-bearers will have to step down from their home associations ... Those who wanted to destroy us have been destroyed as well, but still we are not rejoicing, because it's not good for BCCI," a source close to Srinivasan said.
It's not yet clear whether Srinivasan would have to step down from the post of the TNCA president with immediate effect. The legal team of the association is still in the process of going through the order and are trying to find out when he has to vacate the chair. But even if he can't continue as the state association president, Srinivasan doesn't stand to lose much.
For the last eight years, there have been no elections at the TNCA and there is no whiff of opposition against him. "His greatest plus point as an administrator is that he never mixes cricket with politics. Cricket is always his prime agenda and he has done so much for the welfare of the game in the state that there is no aggrieved party in the association," a senior member said. Srinivasan, despite being away from BCCI, has successfully launched the Tamil Nadu Premier League, which is set for a grand opening on August 27, and that has only added to his stature as a president.
Even if he doesn't continue as the TNCA boss, it will be his group that will continue to run the show. "As far as BCCI is concerned, everything is going to change if all these are implemented. But don't forget it's one state one vote, and Tamil Nadu has a vote. Most of the people who wanted to ensure Srinivasan ouster and orchestrated this situation, can't boast of that. So you can deduce who has won and who has lost," the Srinivasan aide added.