Sparks expected at BCCI's working committee meet

MUMBAI, AUG. 24. The `balance sheet' working committee meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday - about a month before its annual generalbody meeting - is not likely to be a commonplace affair. Seasoned administrators expect sparks to fly at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises with heavyweights all set to have a run in with former President Mr. Raj Singh Dungarpur and the incumbent Mr. A. C. Muthiah.

Evidently some members of the BCCI are not happy at Mr. Dungarpur's conduct during the first Test in Galle. It is said that he asked (in the presence of captain Sourav Ganguly and other team members) Rahul Dravid to be in preparedness to lead India for the tour to South Africa. According to a BCCI source, Manager Anant Mate has sent a report about this incident to the BCCI.

Another episode that's likely to cause a stir is Mr. Muthiah's immediate response to the Union Government's decision not to let India play Pakistan in Pakistan in the Asian Test Championship. ``I suspect that the Government was irked by the Asian Cricket Council's threat that the tournament would be held without India,'' Mr. Muthiah said in Chennai on Friday. His statement - taken by a handful as an oblique barb on Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya - has ruffled the feathers of some members.

The working committee will also consider other matters, routine and important. In the latter category are proposals related to a new Ranji Trophy format from the season 2002-2003 and awarding contracts to national players.

- Our Special Correspondent

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