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Board to discuss Ganguly-Chappell issue on Sep 27

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
September 19, 2005 10:07 IST

Newly elected members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India will meet in Mumbai on September 27 to discuss the ongoing controversy between captain Sourav Ganguly and coach Greg Chappell, president Ranbir Singh Mahendra said.

Though the board had initially refrained from saying anything on the matter, Mahendra spoke to team manager Amitabh Chaudhary in Zimbabwe and felt that the matter had gone too far.

"We are meeting in Mumbai on September 27 to discuss this issue," Mahendra told rediff.com on phone from his residence in Bhiwani in Haryana.

He claimed that the report given by Amitabh Chaudhary, the team manager, was different from reports that have been appearing in the media.

Mahendra denied charges that he was acting on former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya's instructions.

"I may consult people, but I take my own decisions," he said.

Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar, who is also the president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, is yet to decide whether he would like to challenge Mahendra as the president.

"We would get to know about it on Monday evening," Rajiv Shukla, one of the vice presidents told rediff.com.

Pawar lost to Mahendra as a result of Dalmiya's casting vote in last year's elections.

Dalmiya voted twice-- as the president of the Bengal Cricket Association and as the outgoing president of the BCCI.

Pawar is in no mood to face elections unless he is sure of winning.

In any case, the next president will be from West Zone and Pawar can have a full two year term if he chooses to wait.

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

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