New Delhi. The numbers would be in favour of electing Jay Shah as the next ICC (International Cricket Council) chairman but it is not clear whether he will decide to join the world governing body and who will replace him as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary after that. Shah is believed to have the support of 15 out of 16 members of the ICC board but he has less than 96 hours to decide whether he wants to take up the post or not. At the same time, he still has a year left in his second consecutive term as BCCI secretary.
The new ICC chairman will take charge on December 1 and the last date for filing nominations is August 27. The mandatory three-year ‘cooling off period’ for a return to the richest cricket board will begin for Shah after his term ends in October 2025. But there is a big question mark over who will replace Shah at the BCCI as he and those close to him are yet to reveal immediate plans. PTI takes a look at the potential candidates.
Rajeev Shukla: There is a possibility that the BCCI may reshuffle the posts and ask Shukla, the current vice-president and Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, to do the job for a year. Shukla will certainly have no objection to becoming the secretary. Ashish Shelar: Maharashtra BJP veteran Shelar is the treasurer of the BCCI and a big name in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) administration. Shelar, however, is a skilled politician and will have to give his time for the BCCI secretary post. But he too can join the race.
Arun Dhumal: The Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman has the experience to run a board. He has been a treasurer and head of the lucrative cricket league. Joint secretary Devajit Saikia: Though not a popular name, he is an important link in the current BCCI administration who could also be promoted. Among young administrators, Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley or former Bengal Cricket Association president Avishek Dalmiya could be the other names doing the rounds. Other young state unit officials include Punjab’s Dilsher Khanna, Goa’s Vipul Phadke and Chhattisgarh’s Prabhtej Bhatia.
