Upcoming BCCI Meeting to Spark Leadership Changes
The much-anticipated BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the end of September is set to attract attention, with key positions, including the president and IPL chairman, up for election.
Current IPL chairman Arun Dhumal is likely to step down for a mandatory three-year cooling-off period after serving a total of six years. Several names are being discussed as potential successors, but no decisions have been made yet.
Meanwhile, Devajit Saikia will continue as joint secretary, having served a cumulative three years in various roles. Both joint secretary Rohan Gauns Desai and Prabhtej Bhatia will also carry on as they are still in their first year.
For the IPL chairman position, former Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Naik and current BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla are among the front-runners, though nothing has been finalized.
If Shukla returns as IPL chairman, Rakesh Tiwary, the president of the Bihar Cricket Association and a BJP leader, could be a contender for the vice-presidency.
The AGM is expected to occur in the last week of September, with only a few vacancies anticipated this year. The elections will proceed based on the BCCI’s current regulations since the National Sports Governance Act may not be implemented immediately.
Roger Binny, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday in July, is also ineligible for re-election under the existing constitution.
A significant aspect of this AGM will be the selection of the BCCI president. There is a belief among stakeholders that a prominent former player should take over the role. While Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny have set high standards, the challenge remains finding distinguished cricketers willing to step into such prestigious positions, according to a BCCI official.
Shukla’s situation is noteworthy as well; his term as vice-president began in 2020, and he has another year remaining under the Lodha Constitution. However, if the National Sports Governance Act comes into play before the next AGM in 2026, he may not face the cooling-off mandate.
Stay tuned for updates as the AGM dates approach!
