BCCI combine reneged: Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah launched a verbal assault on the ruling combine in the Board of Control for Cricket in India, saying it went back on a consensus, arrived at a fortnight ago, by which Sharad Pawar would have taken over as Board president in 2006.

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"A good consensus was worked out 15 days back. It was decided that [BCCI president Ranbir Singh] Mahendra would continue for another year following which Pawar would take over the reigns in 2006," Abdullah told newspersons in Kolkata on Thursday.

Incidentally, the Farooq Abdullah-led J & K Cricket Association nominated Pawar as a candidate for the top post in the BCCI in Thursday's AGM.

Abdullah said as it was the West Zone's turn next year to get the president's post, the Pawar group wanted that Mahendra vacate next year.

"The Dalmiya group initially agreed to it but later went back on its word and said that they wanted Mahendra to be in the post till he completed his three-year tenure," Abdullah said.

Mahendra became Associate president in 2004 and, as per BCCI's constitution, can continue till the 2007 AGM.