Dubai: Anurag Thakur, who was unanimously elected as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has announced new initiatives to boost the sport in the country. He has asked all state associations to be active on social media platforms to engage more with the media and fans alike.
Thakur, who became the 34th president of the BCCI, also announced that the board will advertise for a new coach for the national team. In his first address to the media after taking charge, he said: “We will advertise for the post of coach today. By 10th of June, anyone interested can apply. Shortlisting (of candidates) and finalising can be done after that date.”
Thakur, 41, has become the second youngest president of the BCCI after Fatehsingh Rao Gaekwad, who became president at the age of 33 in 1963 and served in the post until 1966. Thakur’s current term runs until September 2017.
Thakur nominated Ajay Shirke, who is the Maharashtra Cricket Association president, as the new secretary. Shirke, who had previously served as BCCI treasurer, had resigned from the post in 2013 expressing his unhappiness over the board’s handling of the IPL corruption scandal.
Rahul Johri and Santosh Rangnekar will be the new BCCI CEO and CFO respectively.
Thakur also announced that more tournaments will be added to the itinerary of the women’s cricket team. “Keeping in mind the environmental conditions, BCCI plans to undertake a ‘Green Initiative’. We plan to have solar panels, rain-water harvesting and treatment of sewage water in the newly built stadiums. We have set the deadline for one year and 100 rupees crore (Rs1 billion, $14.83 million) has been allocated for this purpose,” said Thakur, who is a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur district and is the son of two-time former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
Thakur is considered a promising administrator within India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and strongly believes in reaching out to the people.
Thakur also announced that the BCCI will reserve at least 10 per cent of seats in all stadiums for students, girls and disabled people to popularise Test cricket in the country.
Thakur was once a cricketer himself and turned out in a Ranji Trophy match for state side Himachal Pradesh against Jammu and Kashmir. As a right-handed batsman and off-break bowler, he bagged two wickets in that match. As a junior cricketer, he led the Punjab Under-16 team and lifted the Vijay Merchant trophy. He later became a junior national selector.
Thakur asserted that the BCCI will not run away from implementing practical suggestions of the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha committee. “We are not running away from Lodha committee recommendations but we are in favour of using recommendations which are practical. We have already done reforms much before Lodha committee recommendations. We understand our responsibility towards the most popular sport in the country,” he said.
It may be noted in this context that the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB) had moved the Supreme Court to prevent Thakur from contesting to the BCCI president’s post, contending that a person facing a charges sheet cannot contest under the Lodha committee recommendations.
