There were several factors that contributed to chief selector Dilip Vensgarkar's sudden departure from Kolkata. But what probably hurt him most was being asked by Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar whether he allows the other selectors also to watch international matches.
According to Kolkata daily The Telegraph, the chief selector decided the leave the second India-Pakistan Test mid-way after he "felt like dirt".
It further goes on to add that Vengsarkar wrote a lengthy letter to Pawar in which he mentioned the above point.
'Sir, I was taken aback when you mentioned that I do not give opportunity to other selectors to watch the international matches,' he was quoted as writing.
The chief selector looks set to miss Wednesday's selection meeting, in Bangalore, to pick the team for the third Test against Pakistan and the all-important Test series in Australia. Vengsarkar has said that unless the Board's guidelines or the code of conduct for selectors are changed, he will not attend the meeting.
The former India captain also came down hard on BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, saying 'Mr Niranjan Shah, even after finalizing the dates for the selection of the teams, changes them as per his whims and fanciesÂ… .'
Vengsarkar also revealed that BCCI president-elect Shashank Manohar had told him that former Board president I S Bindra is the man behind the tough stand being adopted against the selectors, though he sought to defend Bindra in his letter, saying: 'I think Mr Bindra is not only a responsible official of the BCCI but also a former president of the BCCI.'
Vengsarkar has kept his fellow-selectors in the loop on the issue. On Sunday he met East Zone selector Ranjib Biswal, who is in Mumbai to watch the Ranji Trophy Super League encounter between the hosts and Maharashtra.
An unruffled BCCI, however, said it is up to Vengsarkar to decide whether he wants to continue as the chief selector and should rather focus on his job rather than worry about personal issues.
"He (Vengsarkar) wants to step down. He had spoken to BCCI president Sharad Pawar and expressed willingness to do so," BCCI vice-president Shukla said.
"There are certain issues on which he has got a different point of view, like the guidelines which have been issued about not writing columns and about the selectors going to watch the matches," Shukla said.
These guidelines are part of the BCCI constitution and they cannot be changed and Vengsarkar is free to quit, he added.
Meanwhile, former chief selector Chandu Borde has been tipped as successor to Vengsarkar.
Borde, who had two stints as chairman of the selection committee in the past, was reluctant to comment on the development, saying he has not yet been sounded out by the board.
