The Board of Control for Cricket in India meeting in Chennai this weekend promises genuine entertainment, a good deal more engrossing than the tedious fare on offer in your average South Africa-Zimbabwe Test match. Heavyweight contenders The main course will be served up by Messrs AC Muthiah and Jagmohan Dalmiya, each man doing his utmost to offer up the other on a platter – apple in the mouth included. The battle for the position of Board president could have far-reaching repercussions for the game, both in India and internationally. For most in the ICC, Dalmiya's presence at a meeting would be about as welcome as a roll in fresh manure.

Despite the fact that he did more than most to make cricket a multi-million-dollar sport, the Marwari from Kolkata is regarded with suspicion. Since he relinquished ICC's top post, Dalmiya has been working overtime to regain his influence in the domestic milieu. Defeat will be a bitter blow for a proud man.

Muthiah's tenure has been as pleasant as a crawl through a thicket. The match-fixing scandal and all the muck raked up as a result will be the unfortunate highlight of his years in charge. To his credit, though, he was responsible for bringing the plans for a national cricket academy to completion. And the appointment of John Wright – a thorough professional as opposed to the assorted amateurs who have previously held the post – as coach of the national team was another excellent decision.

Selection committee Of late, the present bunch have actually made a decent fist of the job – always surprising, considering the petty politicking and shameless parochialism that have always stunted Indian cricket's growth.

Mumbai's Dilip Vengsarkar is favourite to take over as chairman of the panel. If that happens, Sourav Ganguly will probably feel the chill as far away as the Cape of Good Hope – Vengsarkar has been less than flattering in his assessment of Ganguly's captaincy. A miserable tour of South Africa and Ganguly could face a long, cold winter at home.

Graded payments India have finally decided to take a leaf out of the Australian cricket manual. The graded-payment system has already been devised – with players being rewarded on the basis of seniority – and all that remains is for the Board to rubber-stamp it.

The Marsh Report The meeting will also disclose Geoff Marsh's findings on the health of the game in India, complete with his suggestions for improvement. Considering the £50,000 consultancy fee paid to Marsh, Australia's former coach, each word had better be worth its weight in gold.

Domestic cricket The new three-tier system for the Ranji Trophy will also come up for discussion. The two-division experiment in England has produced mixed results. Will India go down that road, or will the experiment actually produce some domestic cricket worth watching? Stay tuned.

Dileep Premachandran is assistant editor of Wisden.com India.

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