BCCI concludes acrimonious AGM

The Board of Control for Cricket in India concluded its controversial annual general meeting yesterday, following which the new elected representatives took office. However, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the new president, was absent, campaigning in Haryana for the upcoming assembly elections. The Times of India reported that the meeting lasted all of 30 seconds.

The AGM was held after a gap of four months, after the BCCI was taken to court in September by cricket clubs which opposed the elected representatives as well as Jagmohan Dalmiya's new designation as patron-in-chief. While the stay order on Dalmiya remained, the Supreme Court recently declared that the remaining office-bearers could begin their duties.

Dalmiya had also sought to represent India at the ICC - another move which was challenged in court. But before this could come up for discussion at the meeting, Dalmiya declared it over, in effect leaving India without a representative at the ICC.

The decision provoked angry reactions, one of which came from IS Bindra, a former president of the board. "Just because one man does not want it, the BCCI should not go unrepresented at ICC meetings. We would support the move if both Ranbir Singh Mahendra and SK Nair go as that would be in keeping with the convention."

Dalmiya faced more opposition from Raj Singh Dungarpur. "I was the board president," he said to Mid Day. "So was IS Bindra, and we represented the BCCI. The same thing should be done by Ranbir Singh Mahendra. Why is he [Dalmiya] not allowing others to go?" Before the meeting began, he called for Dalmiya to retire, and said that if he stayed on, it would hurt the BCCI's image.