Dalmiya's presence lends significance to BCCI meeting

Mumbai, Aug 20 (UNI) The working committee meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to be held here on August 23, has assumed significance with the former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya likely to attend it.

Dalmiya, who was recently back in the saddle as the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is at present fighting a court battle with the current ruling group of the parent body for alleged embezzlement of 1996 World Cup funds.

Dalmiya, who was arrested on March 26 this year and released on bail for alleged misappropriation of PILCOM (Pak-India-Lanka Committee) funds to the tune of Rs 2.90 crore, has, now, however, stormed back to the helm of affairs at his home association-Cricket Association of Bengal-at the recent elections.

The ex-chief of the International Cricket Council, expelled by the BCCI in December, 2006 from the apex cricket body, had to step down as president of CAB, but after lengthy legal battles he was allowed to contest the elections in July, 2007.

Dalmiya bided his time and then bounced back to the helm in CAB at the elections held last month. His expected presence at the last meeting of the all-powerful Working Committee before next month's AGM has shifted the focus back to cricket administration.

The meeting is expected to finalise the dates and venue of next month's AGM at which president-elect Shashank Manohar is to take over the reins from incumbent chief Sharad Pawar.

''With the last AGM paving the way for paid selectors, the modalities of the new system would be discussed and finalised at the Working Committee meeting,'' BCCI sources said.

The meeting would also finalise the annual report and budget for the coming year, they added.

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