The stand-off between Dilip Vengsarkar and BCCI reached a point
of no return with the Cricket Board today making it clear that the chief selector
was free to quit and ruling out amending the guidelines relating to the selectors'
conduct.
Further hardening its stand, BCCI today said Vengsarkar was free to quit and
there was no question of amending guidelines which prevent selectors from writing
columns and interacting with the media. a
"...These guidelines cannot be withdrawn. So Vengsarkar
is free to take his decision," BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla
told reporters.
Vengsarkar has reportedly told the board that he would wait
till tomorrow and if the guidelines are not withdrawn would put in his papers.
Shukla, however, dismissed possibility of any such backtracking
by the board, saying, "Now the official position is those guidelines have
been framed keeping in mind the constitutional provisions and well-established
rules and regulations and they cannot be withdrawn." Vengsarkar too stuck
to his guns and sources close to him said that the Mumbaikar "will not
compromise with his integrity".
"He is no longer willing to work in these circumstances unless the Board
reconsiders its stance. He has made up his mind to put in his papers,"
the source said.
Vengsarkar has also kept his fellow selectors in the loop and
yesterday, he met East Zone selector Ranjib Biswal, who is in Mumbai
to watch the Ranji Trophy Super League encounter between the hosts and
Maharashtra.
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