Jag's the word

Nearly six-and-half years after he was ignominiously expelled from the cricket board, and forced to quit as Cricket Association of Bengal president, Jagmohan Dalmiya has risen like the proverbial phoenix to yet again head the world’s richest cricket body, albeit temporarily.

Even days back, as the raging spot fixing scandal rocked Indian cricket, nobody had an inkling that the seasoned sports administrator - credited with having changed the face of the game through his marketing skills - would make a comeback at the top of Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI).

However, he seemed to have played his cards well, working on a beleaguered and gradually friendless BCCI chief N. Srinivasan, to elevate himself to the apex position in the BCCI. But, midway into the last decade, it seemed almost next to impossible for the astute administrator to be in any kind of reckoning following his abrupt fall in the cricket administration.

In 2005, Pawar registered an emphatic victory to become BCCI chief while his team won all the other key posts, as the Dalmiya camp suffered an embarrassing defeat. Pawar robbed Edens of an India-England PWorld Cup match in 2011, due to an under-prepared stadium to further embarrass Dalmiya.

But the wily cricket administrator bided his time to effect what may be called a fairy tale comeback.
According to a board source, Dalmiya will function as its top executive - in Srinivasan’s absence - represent India in the ICC, and if secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke refuse to withdraw their resignations, then nominate their replacements. He will also appoint Jagdale’s replacement in the IPL spot fixing probe commission.

Only a day after his name was floated by the CAB, Dalmiya was Sunday told to take care of the day-to-day affairs of the board after Srinivasan stepped aside in the wake of the spot fixing scandal. At the peak of his career, Dalmiya was known as a trouble shooter par excellence. It though remains to be seen how the astute administrator tackles Indian cricket’s latest scandal that has taken to the fore.