BCCI Elections To Be A Battle Of Uncertainty With No Favourite For President

The much-awaited BCCI Annual General Meeting late in September has already buzzed the cricketing fraternity. These meetings always generate interest year after year but this time it appears more so because the election will determine the next BCCI president and the person who will replace him in the IPL chairman's position. These are among the most important jobs in Indian cricket and as yet there is no one candidate who appears to be the overwhelming favourite. The intrigue has only served to fuel the rumour and speculation surrounding this year's election.

The BCCI president's job is always a big deal since it has so often been held by retired players who have made India a huge name in international cricket. In the past, Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny have occupied this position and both were great in terms of respect. Ganguly was one of the most successful captains of India and Binny was a part of the 1983 World Cup winning team. Now the question remains whether another renowned cricketer will be selected to follow that tradition. Most stakeholders within the board believe that a president must be an individual of standing within the game and who has delivered on the world stage. But the problem is that the position is honorary in character and it is not known how many award-winning players would be willing to assume such a role at this stage in their careers.

Roger Binny aged 70 years in July and according to the existing constitution, he is no longer a candidate for being re elected. This opens up the president's post to a wide field of candidates. The absence of a favorite name ensures that negotiations will go on right up to the last moment. Anyone familiar with Indian cricket politics is aware that choices are usually arrived at after negotiations and alignments. So whilst there is the general assumption that another past player could take over it is not something that can be assured until voting occurs at the AGM.

The role of IPL chairman is also to be replaced. Arun Dhumal, who has been in this office, has served six years at various positions in the board, and so he now must undergo a compulsory cooling off period of three years. This provision stops any office bearer from exercising uninterrupted power for too long. Consequently, many names have come up as potential substitutes. Among them are Sanjay Naik who was previously the secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association and Rajeev Shukla who is now BCCI vice president. Shukla is also a popular politician and has been associated with cricket administration for quite a while. If he gets a promotion to become chairman of IPL then it might create an opportunity for someone else to take the vice president's position.

One candidate in the mix there is Rakesh Tiwary who is not only the president of Bihar Cricket Association but also a political figure from the BJP. His inclusion would be another political aspect of the election that has been a part of BCCI issues. Politics have always been involved in cricket administration in India and this year is no exception.

When it comes to continuity in the administration some office holders will continue in their positions. Devajit Saikia, who has held both the positions of joint secretary and secretary for three years, will carry on. Joint secretary Rohan Gauns Desai and Prabhtej Bhatia, in their first year, will also remain in their positions. This indicates that even though there is change at the top there is stability at other key positions as well.

The timing of the AGM also matters. It has been planned for the end of September and there will be just a couple of vacancies this time around. Elections will be conducted according to the association's own constitution instead of waiting for the National Sports Governance Act coming into effect. That legislation is still weeks away from being rolled out so the BCCI has no plans of holding back its internal process.

The example of Rajeev Shukla is worth a mention. His present vice presidentancy began in 2020 and going by the Lodha reforms he has one year left. But if the National Sports Governance Act is implemented prior to the next AGM in 2026 it may change the rules. In those circumstances Shukla as an incumbent Member of Parliament may not have to go through cooling off. This creates his role an air of uncertainty but at the same time makes him a stronger bargainer.

What's distinctive about this election is the general air of unpredictability. In previous years there were generally probable names mentioned good and far in advance for president or IPL chairman. This time around the field appears open. The need for a high-profile cricketer is great but whether those personalities would accept an honorary position is still ambiguous. Politicians such as Shukla and Tiwary are also in the picture which indicates that the equilibrium between political personalities and cricketing legends will once again be put to test.

Indian cricket fans might not pay close attention to the politics within BCCI but they do need to know that whoever is elected as president or IPL chairman would play a significant role in deciding the path of the game in India. Right from domestic cricket reforms to the management of IPL to the international tours in the future the senior office bearers take key decisions. That is why although these elections are conducted within the board their result affects the game as a whole.

The coming weeks will thus be decisive. Speculation will keep building up and various camps will advance their options. The AGM in late September will be an interesting one and the uncertainty regarding who will come out as the new faces of Indian cricket administration will keep everyone in suspense until the last call is announced.