Two key members of the new leadership-elect at the Hong Kong Cricket Association dropped a bombshell last night by withdrawing their candidacy, citing a possible conflict of interest with their jobs as chief investigators for the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The expected smooth transition of power failed to materialise when Anoop Gidwani and Sudhir Gidwani withdrew as chairman-elect and treasurer-elect respectively on the eve of last night's annual general meeting.
The association's president-elect, Burji Shroff, also withdrew and with no one else standing, the governing body was in effect left rudderless with the clock ticking down to the Karp Group Hong Kong International Sixes less than five months away.
Last night's AGM was adjourned; fresh nominations will be called for and a new executive committee appointed, all within 90 days. It was decided the existing executive committee would continue until the AGM is reconvened. But it is understood the departing leadership are reluctant to make any major decisions, especially involving the Hong Kong Sixes, wanting to leave it to the new power bloc.
Anoop Gidwani had been expected to take over the top job of chairman of the executive committee - the president is a figurehead and does not have a vote - from Dinesh Tandon, who was stepping down after three years in the role. Shroff expected to step into the shoes of outgoing president Shahzada Saleem.
But during the transition period - the past few weeks - doubts rose in the minds of the twin brothers, Anoop and Sudhir, both of whom are chief investigators at the ICAC.
'What they were worried about was the commercial nature of our funding in the future,' Tandon said. 'They perceive there could be a conflict of interest with their positions as senior officers of the ICAC and they didn't want to get into any compromising situation in the future.'