Who Will Replace Jay Shah as BCCI Secretary? Know All About the Candidacy

Add as a preferred source on Google

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to witness a leadership change as a senior BCCI official is all set to succeed Jay Shah as the BCCI secretary.

Devjit Saikia, the current joint secretary and serving as the interim secretary since Shah's elevation to Independent Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is expected to be elected unopposed during the upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM) on January 12, 2025, in Mumbai.

Accompanying Saikia in the leadership reshuffle is Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, the nominee of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh. Bhatia is set to assume the role of treasurer, filling the vacancy left by Ashish Shelar, who stepped down due to his appointment in the Maharashtra government. The BCCI constitution prohibits ministers and government employees from holding office-bearer positions, making Shelar's departure inevitable.

Nominations for the roles closed on January 4, and no opposing candidates emerged by the 5 PM deadline. The election process, overseen by former Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti, includes a formal scrutiny of the nominations on January 6. However, the uncontested nature of the election ensures that the process remains a formality, subject to final approval during the SGM.

Who is Devjit Saikia?

Devjit Saikia, affiliated with the Assam Cricket Association, and Bhatia are set to hold their respective positions until September 2025, when the current three-year term for BCCI office-bearers concludes. Both first-time office-bearers, Saikia and Bhatia will be eligible for re-election following their initial tenure, given they adhere to the BCCI's regulations, which permit up to three terms with mandatory cooling-off periods between consecutive terms.

While Saikia's appointment addresses the secretary vacancy, his move from joint secretary leaves that position open. The BCCI has yet to decide whether to conduct a by-election to fill this role, a matter likely to be discussed during the January 12 SGM.