The 41-year-old BJP MP has become the youngest President of Indian cricket’s governing body.
The 41-year-old BJP MP has become the youngest President of Indian cricket’s governing body.
Mumbai: Anurag Thakur has unanimously elected BCCI President replacing Shashank Manohar in the Board's Special General Meeting (SGM) here on Sunday. Manohar stepped down from the position to take up the ICC chief's job. The 41-year-old Thakur has become BCCI’s youngest President.
Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) chief Ajay Shirke has been elected BCCI Secretary. Earlier, Shirke made it clear that he will not -"stand in a queue-" to get a post in the Board.
-"I have never put myself in contention for any top job within the BCCI nor do I have any goals of getting any posts. My name may be doing the rounds as you say, and it might look to many that I am myself pushing my name in the media, which I have never done,-" he had stated.
On Saturday, the BJP MP got the signatures of all six east zone units in his BCCI presidential nomination form as he completed the formalities in presence of former India captain and CAB president Sourav Ganguly.
Mumbai: BCCI members congratulate Anurag Thakur on becoming the President of BCCI pic.twitter.com/dRchftDgLg
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 22, 2016
Just to show solidarity, all the six east units, Cricket Association of Bengal, Assam CA, Tripura CA, NCC and Jharkhand SCA signed his nomination papers whereas the rules require only one unit to nominate the name for presidential candidate.
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Thakur will be taking over the reins of the embattled Board in rather tough times as the BCCI is facing heat from the Supreme Court to implement the Justice RM Lodha Committee's recommendations for sweeping reforms.
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Manohar's exit from the top post barely seven months into his tenure has necessitated the election of the new chief of the world's richest and most powerful cricket body. He was elected as ICC's first independent chairman on May 12.
Once Thakur is elected unopposed, it would be his prerogative to pick his replacement for the Secretary's position. According to sources, Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) chief and business magnate Ajay Shirke is the top contender for the post.
Also Read: Shashank Manohar abdication would be escapism
Shirke, however, has made it clear that he will not -"stand in a queue-" to get a post in the Board.
-"I have never put myself in contention for any top job within the BCCI nor do I have any goals of getting any posts. My name may be doing the rounds as you say, and it might look to many that I am myself pushing my name in the media, which I have never done,-" he had stated.
Also Read: I was forced to quit, says outgoing BCCI chief Shashank Manohar
The SGM will be followed by the working committee meeting of the Board. -"Agenda for the meeting is a normal one,-" sources said.
Congratulations Mr. President - @ianuragthakur pic.twitter.com/OYFZj4NxcO
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 22, 2016
(This story originally appeared in the Deccan Chronicle as may the case be)
