Top guns Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, members of the runs & hundreds-packed Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, have sought “clarity” on their “role” and “responsibilities.”

Well-placed sources of The Telegraph informed that Laxman sent a “courteous” email on that and related issues, on behalf of all three members, to the two Supreme Court-appointed Administrators.

The email was sent a “couple of days ago” in response to a request from Administrators Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji that the CAC “select” the next head coach of the India women’s team.

Owing to the “short notice” and “prior commitments,” Sachin and his colleagues declined to be involved in the process.

The Board has, through an advertisement, sought applications by 5.00 pm on Friday. Interviews would be conducted on December 20.

According to the new Constitution of the Board, which has already been registered, the CAC alone has the responsibility to choose the national selectors and the coaching staff of both the men’s and women’s teams.

Sachin and his colleagues were hand-picked by the late Jagmohan Dalmiya during his brief second innings as the Board president. That was well over three years ago.

All along, neither the CAC’s responsibilities nor roles were defined.

Ramesh Powar’s tenure is over, but T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana have appealed that the former India off-spinner be brought back. Mithali Raj, the ODI captain, holds a different view.

Apparently, Board CEO Rahul Johri (who was at the centre of a very recent inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment) and GM Syed Saba Karim are toeing the Mithali line.

Neither Johri nor Saba Karim is known to function without Rai’s okay, so it’s assumed that the chief Administrator isn’t at all in favour of again having Powar on board.

Why not?

Word is that Diana, with good reasons, is sympathetic towards Powar.

In any case, when Harmanpreet and Smriti have endorsed Powar in such strong terms, why not offer him a fresh contract?

If Virat Kohli could have his way with Ravi Shastri’s appointment as the head coach (he’d earlier been the team director) in July 2017, then why not Harmanpreet and Smriti?

Not long ago, by the way, the CAC had declined to fill a vacancy in the junior selection committee.

Sachin had a “conflict of interest” on account of son Arjun, while Laxman was honest enough in accepting that he hadn’t been following cricket at the juniors’ level too closely. Sourav, it seems, did not reply to an email from the Administrators.

Back to Laxman’s email...

From what one understands, Laxman wrote:

• A) The CAC’s “inability” to participate in the “process” of the selection of the next head coach.
  
• B) “Request” for adequate “prior notice” to the CAC in such matters.
  
• C) An appeal that the CAC’s “scope of role and responsibilities” be spelt out to ensure “clarity” in functioning.
  
• D) That the clarity issue had been “pending” since the CAC was constituted.
  
• E) Reinforced a “commitment” on the part of the CAC to “work for the development of the sport” and to do so on an “honorary basis.”
  

Clearly, the “honorary basis” bit needs to be highlighted and all three — Sachin, Sourav and Laxman — must be applauded.

VVS Laxman has sent an email on behalf of Sachin and Sourav. The Telegraph file picture

The usual impression, after all, is that even the superstars who’ve retired expect to be paid for whatever they do.

One can’t understand why the CAC couldn’t be given more time, as the Harmpanpreets and Mithalis won’t be seen in action before January 24, in New Zealand.

Over two months after India lost in the World T20 semi-finals, in the West Indies, that is.

With the CAC declining to be involved in the process, Johri and Saba Karim have, with Rai’s blessings, decided that an ad hoc committee would do the needful.

However, neither the Board’s old nor new Constitution has any place for an ad hoc committee.

The iconic Kapil Dev, Shanta Rangaswamy and Aunshuman Gaekwad (who are on the five-member steering committee for setting up a Players’ Association) are on the ad hoc committee, which actually has no locus standi.

Rai, Johri and Saba Karim should be knowing that. In fact, the Board’s acting secretary, Amitabh Choudhary, has formally questioned the ad hoc committee’s legitimacy through an email on Monday.

Expect more twists and turns.