Ex-India Players Raghuram Bhat, Kiran More In Line For BCCI Posts: Report

Key Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) administrators reportedly held an urgent yet informal meeting in New Delhi on Saturday to finalise the candidates for the vacant posts in the Board ahead of the annual general meeting on September 28.

According to news agency PTI, those summoned for the vacant roles are in real contention to fill them. That includes Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Raghuram Bhat.

Bhat is a former spinner who played two Tests for India, alongside 82 First-Class and 12 List-A matches. His tenure as the KSCA president will end on September 30, and he is now unlikely to stand in the state body’s next elections in October-November, indicating his strong chance for a national role.

The report said that

decorated former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been nominated as the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA)’s representative for the AGM, was not a part of the meeting, whereas it was unclear whether Sourav Ganguly (former BCCI president and Cricket Association of Bengal’s representative in the AGM) attended the critical meeting in the national capital.

The report also named former India wicketkeeper Kiran More, too, could be in the fray for one of the posts, with backing from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

There are several key positions that the BCCI is looking to fill with the AGM, including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer. One representative of the General Body in the BCCI Apex Council of the BCCI and two representatives of the General Body in the IPL Governing Council are also likely to be part of the discussions.

Roger Binny was the most recent president of the powerful body, while a new IPL chairman is needed as incumbent Arun Dhumal is likely to go for a mandatory cool-off period after completing a cumulative period of six years.

BCCI generally finalises these positions before the meeting, making elections only a formality. The same is expected for this AGM, with the expectation being that the new key players would be known even before the first discussion begins.