India’s Champions Trophy Decision at BCCI Meet on Sunday

While the selection date for India’s team is set for 8 May, not all BCCI factions have been informed.

Members of the Indian cricket team with the 2013 Champions Trophy. (Photo: Reuters)

A section of BCCI's old guard, especially from the N Srinivasan faction, is set to advocate a pull-out from the Champions Trophy despite the Committee of Administrators' (COA) warning of possible consequences.

The COA met the state units in two sessions ahead of Sunday’s Special General Meeting where implications of a pull-out were discussed threadbare. PTI reports that North and East Zone units members are against a pull-out while the South Zone, which is still controlled by Srinivasan, wants drastic steps to be taken.

Some old timers like Niranjan Shah of Saurashtra (west zone) openly advocated pullout to “teach the ICC a lesson”. It could be a mixed mandate if the governing body decides on floor test.

Team Selection for Champions Trophy?

Acting president CK Khanna stated that May 8 is team selection date but joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary sarcastically said: "I am the convener and I don't know that there's a team selection on Monday (May 8)!"

However, according to another senior office-bearer, acting president Khanna is not off the mark.

"If Amitabh doesn't convene the meeting, there is every possibility that CEO Rahul Johri will instruct MSK Prasad and Co. to announce the team," the office bearer.

Repercussions of a Pullout

"COA chief Vinod Rai told us that if BCCI goes for a pullout then they won't shy away from moving the Supreme Court. He told the senior office-bearers (joint Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and treasurer Aniruddh Chaudhry) that negotiations are paramount," an official from an institutional unit told PTI.

It is learnt that COA apprised the members of how if India pull out from the Champions Trophy in June, it will have to pull out of all ICC tournaments till 2023.

"Vikram Limaye told members that if they again take a confrontational approach, let them be sure that they won't get USD 570 million. A legal letter would mean ICC would not be shy of fighting the battle in the courts," the participant said.