Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
Once upon a time, the BCCI elections used to offer intrigue and mystique. The dinner for the officials on the AGM eve used to be the occasion where backroom parleys reached their crescendo. It’s an open-and-shut case these days. That Mithun Manhas would be elected unopposed as the new BCCI president was decided in a high-profile meeting a week ago. On Sunday, at the cricket board’s 94th Annual General Meeting, the formalities were completed.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounded the ‘red alert’ in Mumbai and adjoining districts for Sunday, and it has been bucketing down since late last evening. The BCCI officials and representatives of the state associations braved the rain to drop in at the Cricket Centre. The AGM started at 11.30 am. The Cricket Association of Bengal, though, was unrepresented at the meeting, with its president Sourav Ganguly not turning up due to his Puja commitments. This is a special time of the year in every Bengali household.
Around 3 pm, when Manhas came out of the meeting, he was asked the reason for his accession. “Maybe, my work, my credentials have worked for me,” said the new BCCI president. “During my tenure as a Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) administrator, we have reached knockouts of domestic tournaments (across various age-groups) seven times.”
Manhas becoming the BCCI president offered a touch of history, for he is the first man from Jammu and Kashmir to helm Indian cricket. The 45-year-old featured in 157 first-class matches and scored 9,714 runs, and he played almost all his cricket for Delhi before migrating to Jammu and Kashmir in 2015.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia gave the low-down on the proceedings at the AGM, adding that the cricket board has asked for nominations from the state associations for its Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and other committees. “The Apex Council will go through the list, and the office-bearers will take the decisions,” he said.
The AGM confirmed the introduction of Pragyan Ojha (South Zone) and RP Singh (Central Zone) in the senior men’s selection committee. The two former India cricketers replaced S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee respectively. Amita Sharma became the new chief selector of the women’s national team, coming in place of Neetu David. Jayesh George from Kerala was appointed as the chairman of the Women’s Premier League (WPL)
The AGM reaffirmed its commitment towards first-class cricket — a cricketer playing 14 first-class games in a season remains eligible for additional incentives. Also, up to U-19 level, playing T20s is restricted unless a player has appeared in at least one first-class game.
It was the first BCCI AGM for former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who represented the Punjab Cricket Association. “I was there as a player, this is the other side,” he told reporters. “Cricket has given me so much. I want to give something back to the game.”
Harbhajan also said that he has urged the BCCI to pitch in for the flood relief efforts in Punjab.
Who will win the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan, the great offie was asked. “Aaj India chak de phatte,” he signed off.
The key decisions made at the AGM:
- The following members were elected as the new Office Bearers of the BCCI:
(a) President: Mr. Mithun Manhas
(b) Vice President: Mr. Rajeev Shukla
(c) Secretary: Mr. Devajit Saikia
(d) Joint Secretary: Mr. Prabhtej Bhatia
(e) Treasurer: Mr. A. Raghuram Bhat
- One representative of the General Body was elected in the Apex Council of the BCCI:
(a) Mr. Jaydev Shah
- Two representatives in the Indian Premier League Governing Council were elected:
(a) Mr. Arun Singh Dhumal; and
(b) Mr. M Khairul Jamal Majumdar.
- The audited accounts for FY 2024-25 were passed and adopted by the General Body.
- The Annual Budget of FY 2025-26 was approved by the General Body.
- Men’s Selection Committee was announced. The Selection Committee will have the following members:
(i) Mr. Ajit Agarkar (Chairperson);
(ii) Mr. Shiv Sundar Das;
(iii) Mr. Ajay Ratra;
(iv) Mr. R. P. Singh; and
(v) Mr. Pragyan Ojha.
Mr. R.P. Singh and Mr. Pragyan Ojha have been newly inducted in the men’s selection committee.
- Women’s Selection Committee was announced. The Women’s Selection Committee will have the following members:
(i) Ms. Amita Sharma (Chairperson);
(ii) Ms. Shyama Dey;
(iii) Ms. Sulakshana Naik;
(iv) Ms. Jaya Sharma; and
(v) Ms. Sravanthi Naidu.
Ms. Amita Sharma, Ms. Sulakshana Naik, Ms. Jaya Sharma and Ms. Sravanthi Naidu have been newly inducted in the Women’s Selection Committee.
- Junior Cricket Committee was announced. The Junior Cricket Committee will have the following members:
(i) Mr. S Sharath (Chairperson)
(ii) Mr. Harvinder Sodhi
(iii) Mr. Pathik Patel
(iv) Mr. Krishna Mohan; and
(v) Mr. Ranadeb Bose
Mr. S. Sharath has been newly inducted in the Junior Cricket Committee.
- The WPL committee will have the following members:
(i) Mr. Jayesh George; (Chairperson)
(ii) Mr. Mithun Manhas;
(iii) Mr. Rajeev Shukla;
(iv) Mr. Devajit Saikia;
(v) Mr. Prabhtej Bhatia;
(vi) Mr. A Raghuram Bhat;
(vii) Ms. Madhumati Lele;
(viii) Mr. Sanjay Tandon;
(ix) Mr. R. I. Palani; and
(x) Mr. Arun Singh Dhumal.
- The Infrastructure Committee will have the following members:
(i) Mr. Rohan Jaitley; (Chairperson)
(ii) Mr. Mithun Manhas;
(iii) Mr. Rajeev Shukla;
(iv) Mr. Devajit Saikia;
(v) Mr. Prabhtej Bhatia;
(vi) Mr. A Raghuram Bhat;
(vii) Mr. Anirudh Chaudhury; and
(viii) Mr. Sana Sathish Babu.
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