MUMBAI: Former Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla is set to be elected unopposed as a vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India on December 24 at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting in Ahmedabad.
The introduction of two new teams in the IPL and cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics will be the main topics of discussion at the meeting which has 23 points on the agenda.
Speaking of the IPL, there appears to be a return to pragmatism despite the pressure being exerted, what with the world’s largest cricketing arena – Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, (home turf of Jay Shah, BCCI secretary and son of Union home minister Amit Shah) – ready to welcome players and spectators. More than one media report has alluded to the fact the BCCI is now coming around to the view that with the 2021 edition of the IPL just four-odd months away, the world’s biggest and richest annual cricket tournament should “stay with the same eight teams”.
Ergo it could well turn out that discussions around new IPL team/s (one or two as the case may be) will be focused on entry in the 2022 season.
Shah informed the state bodies last Tuesday that the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera will be the venue of the meeting.
In his mail, Shah wrote: “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will conduct its 89th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 24th December 2020. The Office Bearers have decided that the crucial meeting will take place at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera.
“As you are aware that our long-drawn battle against COVID-19 has not ended yet, the BCCI medical team has chalked out a detailed plan for everyone’s safety and wellbeing. While we gather to take stock of the season gone by and look at the road ahead, it is important that we don’t let our guard down.
“The pandemic has unleashed unprecedented challenges but we have done our best to ride this tide. With your unflinching support and cooperation, we were able to pull off a tournament of the magnitude of the IPL. Time has now come to get back on our feet and resume our cricketing operations at home. I firmly believe that with discussion and dialogue, we will be able to turn the corner.”
The AGM was earlier postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
