Sourav Ganguly is set to be replaced as president of Indian cricket, with the former captain217;s backers claiming he has been forced out for refusing to join the ruling political party.
Ganguly is widely regarded as one of the sport217;s greatest captains and has been in charge of the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the past three years.
He had been widely tipped to earn a second term as president when the board holds its annual general meeting next Tuesday.
But Ganguly, 50, is said to have declined to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi217;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This week the 1983 World Cup winner Roger Binny filed his nomination to replace Ganguly and will likely be elected unopposed next week, board vice-president Rajeev Shukla told reporters.
Politicians from Ganguly217;s home state of West Bengal alleged that the former batsman was forced out.
It was a “political vendetta” by the government, opposition lawmaker Santanu Sen said on Twitter.
“We are with you Dada!” he added, referring to Ganguly by his nickname.
Ganguly217;s political allegiance has been a regular source of media speculation in recent months and the country217;s home minister Amit Shah visited him at home earlier this year.
India217;s top court recently relaxed a rule that barred sporting officials from consecutive terms in office in the same position, opening the way for Shah217;s son Jay the BCCI secretary and Ganguly to seek reappointment.
The BJP have denied involvement in the board217;s looming vote and accused their opponents of politicising the issue.
“Sourav Ganguly is a cricketing legend. Some people are now shedding crocodile tears about the changes in BCCI,” said the party217;s vice-president Dilip Ghosh.
Current BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, younger brother of the country217;s sports minister Anurag Thakur, is expected to be elected chairman of the Indian Premier League.
