Will Pawar take on Mahendra?

While the Indian team scrambles to get its act together in Zimbabwe, the action in the Indian cricket board is heating up back home. On September 22 the board assembles for its annual general meeting in Kolkata, where the president and secretary, among other office bearers, will be elected. It is yet unclear whether Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who has completed one year as president, will face any opposition.

Speculation is rife on whether Sharad Pawar, the president of the Mumbai Cricket Association, will take the plunge and oppose Mahendra. Last year Pawar stood against Mahendra and narrowly lost out in an acrimonius and action-packed election where Jagmohan Dalmiya, the outgoing president, settled the matter in Mahendra's favour with a casting vote.

At that time Pawar accused Dalmiya of being the "bowler and the umpire" in the same match, as Dalmiya voted a total of four times - as president of Cricket Association of Bengal, head of National Cricket Club, as outgoing president, and finally the casting vote with the scores level. This time around Pawar is holding his cards close to his chest, and with only three days left to go for the election has not confirmed or denied his decision to stand for the post.

However, Raj Singh Dungarpur, a known Dalmiya opponent, recently told Mid Day, the Mumbai afternoon paper, "Mr Pawar is going to contest the election and we are confident that he will win. He's doing his homework, contacting people and getting the response. We are already assured of 17 votes out of 30, and with a little bit of luck we will be having 18 in a week's time."

Dungarpur's confidence stems from the fact that Dalmiya is not in the president's chair. "Our advantage is that Dalmiya will not be in the chair which means he cannot manipulate things like last time. Hence, it will be a fair election. Mahendra is an upright man and I don't expect him to play foul. I don't see Dalmiya going down and telling Mahendra what to do, unless he sincerely believes he is a rubber stamp."

For the moment, though, it is not clear whether Mahendra will face any opposition, although sources suggest that Pawar will make his decision known by tomorrow.