Kolkata, Dec 8 (IANS) Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi may have visited the city Tuesday officially to inspect the Eden Gardens, but sources in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) say the daylong trip could be a precursor to a new equation in the cricket board politics.
Modi and CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya may have been the bitterest of foes only a couple of years back, but no more.

While Dalmiya is eyeing a comeback in Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) politics, its present vice president Modi - now feeling cornered in the cricket board with a couple of powerful figures turning against him - has long-term ambitions.

If a source in the CAB is to be believed, Modi could be eyeing Dalmiya’s support to raise his stock further in the corridors of power of the board.

Moreover, Modi’s vice presidential term is set to end next year and after his back-to-back losses for the Rajasthan Cricket Association presidential post and with almost all the BCCI affiliate units in the north, west and south being run by his detractors, Modi could be looking for a nomination from the east to be in the thick of things in the board.

And with the East Zone’s turn to elect the BCCI chief in 2014, Modi could be hoping for Dalmiya’s blessings to get a nomination from one of the affiliates in the zone to contest for the prized slot, said the source.

Modi was all praise for Dalmiya Tuesday. “Dalmiya is a very experienced administrator. He has been there for a long long time. We are all learning from him,” he told mediapersons.

For Dalmiya, a tie-up with Modi could be an avenue for his reinstatement in the centre-stage of BCCI politics.

When contacted, Dalmiya refused to say anything on the issue.