CHENNAI: For the third time in 15 months, all eyes in the BCCI are on East Zone. Not known to produce international cricketers in numbers to match North, South or West, this region becomes important because 2014-17 is its turn to nominate the BCCI president.
After choosing Jagmohan Dalmiya in March 2015 and Shashank Manohar in October the same year — unanimously both times to rule out chances of election — the six East units are set to nominate Anurag Thakur, at the special general meeting expected to be held towards the end of this month. The uncertainty is over the post of secretary to be vacated by Thakur.
According to rules, he can nominate someone to continue till the next annual general meeting in September. He can also ask the house to choose. In either case, election for the post has to be held at the AGM. Ajay Shirke is the favourite at the moment, followed by Rajeev Shukla.
“As convenor of East, I’ve spoken to members from the zone. We’re unanimous on Thakur as president. All six are ready to propose and second his name,” Odisha Cricket Association secretary Ashirwad Behera told Express on Thursday. “The BCCI president’s post is a lot about how you deal with members and take into account their opinion before taking a decision. Thakur fits the bill.”
An East member from another state said Thakur has been in touch with members from the region since Manohar quit. He said Shukla and Sharad Pawar have backed out despite showing a hint of interest, after realising that it would be difficult to woo at least two voters as proposer and seconder.
If there’s unity in selecting the president, East Zone isn’t unanimous in demanding that the secretary be from one of them. Apart from the late Dalmiya, the only other office-bearer from East in the period under consideration has been Jharkhand’s Amitabh Chowdhary, the assistant secretary. Sourav Ganguly can’t be considered because rules specify a candidate has to attend two AGMs, which he hasn’t.
A senior BCCI member felt someone like Shirke or Shukla is more likely because there is lack of unity on this among the six units — Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, Tripura and National Cricket Club. “Chowdhary is an office bearer who meets the criteria. But all East members aren’t keen on him.” An East member too said Chowdhary isn’t their choice as of now.
If that remains East’s stand, Thakur’s choice becomes the man. Several board members think Shirke could be the one because although close to Manohar and Pawar at different times, the Maharashtra Cricket Association president and former BCCI treasurer is considered ‘better’ than Shukla, who doesn’t have everybody’s trust. But going by the trend in BCCI, nobody is ruled out at the moment.
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— atreyo@newindianexpress.com