What BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla said
“Roger Binny has filed nominations for the post of President, I for the post of Vice President, Jay Shah as Secretary, Ashish Shelar as Treasurer and Devjit Saikia for the post of Joint Secretary,” BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla told reporters. He said, “Arun Dhumal will head the IPL governing council and Avishek Dalmiya will also be part of that council. Kherul Jamal (Mamun) Majumdar will be part of the Apex Council. So far these same people have filed their nominations and all are unopposed.’ The last day for filing nominations is Wednesday. Candidates can withdraw their nomination till October 14. The final list of candidates for various posts will be published on October 15.
Surprised at Binny’s claim
Binny’s claim for the post of BCCI President is surprising. However, his name was hinted at for the post when the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) appointed him as its representative for the BCCI AGM in place of Secretary Santosh Menon. Binny is the KSCA president and will have to step down from the state body. Binny, a medium pace bowler, played a key role in making India champions in the 1983 World Cup. He then took 18 wickets in eight matches which was a record for that tournament. Binny has in the past been a member of the senior selection committee headed by Sandeep Patil. Whenever the name of his son Stuart Binny was discussed for selection in the Indian team, he used to distance himself from it.
A BCCI source said, “Roger is a fine person who brought laurels to the country while playing for India. He is the hero of the World Cup and has a clean image. He resigned from the selection committee when the Lodha committee had raised concerns about conflict of interest. Shukla, the only Congressman among the BCCI office-bearers, will continue to be the vice-chairman of the board if elected. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s younger brother Dhumal will now be the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will replace Brijesh Patel. Dhumal is currently the Treasurer.
Whether BCCI will contest for the post of ICC chairman or not has not been decided yet. Shukla said it would be discussed during the AGM. Ganguly, who arrived in Mumbai on Monday evening, interacted with several influential people in Delhi last week. Ganguly was keen to continue as the BCCI President but was told that giving a second term to the post of Board President is not the practice.
Sourav Ganguly’s no to the post of IPL chairman
Sources said, “Sourav was offered the IPL chairman’s post but he politely declined it. His reasoning was that he cannot head the sub-committee once he remains the BCCI president. He had shown interest in continuing in the post. In Dhumal’s case, the decision-makers waited for Ganguly’s decision and when he refused to be the IPL chairman, he handed over the position to Dhumal, a resident of Himachal Pradesh. After Ganguly’s withdrawal, the decision regarding the representative of the eastern region was now in the hands of Assam Chief Minister Biswa Sarma as he had played a key role in it last time as well.
Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar will be the new treasurer of the board which means he will not be able to become the president of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). He was to play this role with the support of Sharad Pawar faction. “When Shelar becomes treasurer, he will have to withdraw his nomination from the post of MCA president,” said Rajeev Shukla. Devjit Saikia, a close aide of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is expected to be the new joint secretary. He will replace Jayesh George.