CAPE TOWN: Are the powerful Indian cricket authorities trying to dictate Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) appointment of a new chief executive in the next few weeks?

It may sound a bizarre thought, but the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) is quite clearly nose-out-of-joint over the possibility that the South African post will be filled by former International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

Lorgat is a compelling frontrunner for the position, not only given his healthy stint at the helm of the global governing body — a job he assumed in April 2008 — but because he is a former Howa Bowl player of some repute and has also served as convenor of the national selectors in South Africa.

That really ought to be a bottom line ... but little is simple in the world cricket fraternity these days and India’s reported indignation over 52-year-old Lorgat’s claims to the position could have deeper repercussions than some even imagine.

Lorgat and the BCCI are clearly uneasy bedfellows. During Lorgat’s influential ICC stint, there was significant squabbling between the two and his firm stance on global acceptance of the Decision Review System (DRS) in international cricket — India remain stubbornly opposed to its intended blanket presence — was a particular flashpoint.

Norman Arendse, CSA’s lead independent director, admitted to cricket-specialist website www.espncricinfo.com on Tuesday that they “had heard rumours that the tour was in jeopardy if Lorgat (is) appointed”.

“They (BCCI) conveyed to us, with a fair amount of detail, why they would be opposed to his appointment which is quite ridiculous.”—Agencies