At least three state associations affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India will keep the power in legacy families.
Former BCCI president N Srinivasan will maintain his stronghold over Tamil Nadu Cricket Association with his daughter Rupa Gurunath on Thursday being elected unopposed as president of the body, making her the first woman to head a state unit of the Indian cricket board.
Srinivasan’s daughter did not face any opposition with the last date for filing nomination being September 24.
With Rupa taking over the reins, TNCA remains under control of the Srinivasan family, as it has been the case for the better part of the last two decades.
It must be mentioned that Rupa’s husband Guruanth Meiyappan, the tainted former Team Principal of the Chennai Super Kings has been banned for life by the BCCI, for being involved in betting during the 2013 IPL which was rocked by spot-fixing scandal. Meiyappan was in fact arrested by the Mumbai Police in midst of IPL.
Elsewhere, the Shah family of Rajkot maintained their control over Saurashtra Cricket Association with former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah’s son Jaydev took over as the president. Jaydev retired after 16 years of first-class cricket, the better part of which he captained India players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat.
A media advisory issued on Saturday confirmed news of the newly-elected president who had played 120 first class matches before announcing his retirement from all forms of the game in 2018. He has captained Saurashtra 110 times, which is a domestic cricket record.
Another state unit where family rule will continue is Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association where another former BCCI president Anurag Thakur’s younger brother Arun Dhumal takes charge from September 27, added the PTI report.
Dhumal thanked his brother Anurag for his contribution to building a world-class stadium in the state. “We should be proud of the work done by Anurag Thakur for development of state’s cricket. The name of Dharamsala is now known throughout the world because of the lovely cricket stadium built under the guidance of Anurag,” Dhumal said.
Dhumal said that his aim would be to ensure that Thakur’s dream of setting up 70 cricket coaching centres across the state is realised. “Anurag ji’s dream was to have 70 centres across the state. We have already got clearance for 62 of them and 22 are already operational. Around 1200 kids are getting coaching,” he said.
The Committee of Administrators had set October 22 as the date for the BCCI AGM and elections and set September 28 as the deadline for the state units to conduct their elections.
(With PTI inputs)
(Article updated with official appointments)
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