Anurag elected new BCCI president, Ajay secretary

Anurag Thakur is elected as new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president in the Special General Meeting at the body’s headquarters in Mumbai on Sunday.

He takes over the mantle from Shashank Manohar who had stepped down a fortnight ago to take over the reins of ICC where an independent candidate is presiding for the very first time, Indian Express reports.

Upon his election, Thakur appointed Ajay Shirke, president of Maharashtra Cricket Association as the secretary.

In the election, East Zone - the zone whose turn it was to choose the president - unanimously opted for Thakur.

All six associations Cricket Association of Bengal, Jharkhand Cricket Association, Orissa Cricket Association, National Cricket Club of Kolkata, and Tripura Cricket Association have nominated Thakur as their candidate.

Thakur’s selection is the worst kept secret in BCCI circles even with a BCCI statement on Saturdaying saying, ‘Thakur has been nominated by all six full member units of the East Zone.

He will be officially declared elected as the President of BCCI for the remaining term 2014-17 at the Special General Meeting.’ He will be in charge for the remainder of the 2014-17 terms.

For Thakur, there are big challenges up ahead in terms of the TV deal for the IPL and combating the Lodha Committee recommendations which could hit the board’s revenues hard.