MUMBAI: Having shown “who’s the boss” (to quote former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha), and having got the Supreme Court to accede to pretty much all its demands, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has reportedly set the wheels in motion to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the third week of October
As per Cricbuzz and Telegraph India, the tentative date for the AGM is October 18, as too the pending BCCI elections, for which the board has appointed AK Jyothi as electoral officer.
Which also means that the month ahead will more than likely be spent in deciding names to fill the various important positions in the most powerful sports body in the country. The most important of course being that of BCCI president and secretary, positions currently held by former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah respectively.
As a source told The Telegraph: “Like most sporting associations in the country, the BCCI’s top tier is not decided by the whims of the state units. A lot will depend on what the powers-that-be in New Delhi’s South block (read Central government) decide. There has been no interference in any matter during these three years since the new dispensation took charge in October 2019.” .
“As of now, the office-bearers are on the same page as regards the continuity factor. It’s too early to predict anything but unless there’s a dramatic turn of events, both Sourav and Shah are set to remain in their respective positions.”
“There’s a perception that any move to dislodge the former India captain from the president’s chair could have far-reaching consequences,” the source maintained. The amended constitution has already given more authority to the secretary who will have “all powers in relation to cricketing and non-cricketing matters” and, in a direct U-turn, the CEO will henceforth work under his or her “direct supervision, control and direction”.
Cricbuzz reports differently however, stating: “Following the Supreme Court relief on the cooling-off clause in the constitution, it is likely that the BCCI will have the same set of office bearers with some confusion still hovering over the continuation of president Sourav Ganguly. Secretary Jay Shah is tipped to be the next president but a final decision has still not been taken by the concerned authorities. Treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal may become the secretary.
“Among the likely newcomers to the new dispensation could be Anirudh Chaudhry, the former treasurer who had constantly fought for the autonomy of the BCCI and its office-bearers during the three years of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) regime in the BCCI and Rohan Jaitley, the son of late Arun Jaitely, who was one of the strong defenders of the BCCI powers. Rajeev Shukla may be a claimant for the IPL chairman role.”
