These Working Committee members, cutting across zonal divide, feel that the Bombay High Court's observation that the BCCI failed to follow its own constitution while setting up the panel to examine charges of betting and spot-fixing against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements (owners of CSK) and Jaipur IPL Pt Ltd (owners of Rajasthan Royals), has clearly "exposed" the cricket board's leadership and embarrassed even its rank and file.
Despite the turning tide, there are indications from Chennai that he has made up his mind to make a comeback. "The court order doesn't stop him from attending the meeting. He has made up his mind and unless something goes drastically wrong in the next 24 hours, he will call the shots in the Working Committee meeting," a source said.
The feeling in the Srinivasan camp is that if he doesn't take charge now, similar court cases will keep propping up, trying to stop him from extending his tenure as the BCCI president for one more year. They are convinced that there isn't a single strong voice of opposition against him among the Working Committee members and "it's all external pressure".
But all that may change soon. The uneasiness is turning into anger and some of the members are hoping to form a pressure group to force the current regime in the BCCI to initiate large-scale reforms to rescue a heavily tainted IPL and restore the faith of fans in Indian cricket.
Among the questions that are being asked are: why did BCCI office-bearers rush to table the probe panel's report at the July 28 meeting in Kolkata when the matter was sub-judice? The role of senior board officials will also be questioned for failing to follow proper procedures while constituting the panel.
There are two options before the BCCI following the Bombay High Court's ruling, though: It can move the Supreme Court or it can show some humility and accept it and constitute a new panel to probe the alleged misdeeds in a more transparent manner. Srinivasan may, of course, choose to ignore both and ride roughshod as he is wont to.
If he takes that course, he will, however, have to brace for another problem. And that pertains to his bete noire Lalit Modi. Srinivasan is under pressure to complete disciplinary proceedings against Modi at the earliest. But for throwing Modi out of the BCCI, he will need 24 votes.
In the current scenario, it is an unrealistic figure even for Srinivasan, who many members feel, has matched Modi's arrogance and stubbornness on issues that have hurt Indian cricket. Given this image and the maverick Modi's ability to win over rivals, Srinivasan may find himself well short of the numbers in his bid to pull the plug on the former IPL chairman.
Between now and 12 noon on Friday, Srinivasan will have all the pointers to what lies in store. It will be interesting to see whether he keeps pushing BCCI to a point of no return or changes track on his 'second coming' in order to salvage its credibility, and give himself a chance to come back without any resistance.
(with inputs from Dwaipayan Datta)
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