Shukla confirms nomination and panel
The race for the top roles in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken shape, with Vice-President Rajeev Shukla confirming on Sunday that he has filed his nomination. Speaking to the media at the BCCI headquarters, he revealed a panel led by former Delhi cricketer Mithun Manhas as the candidate for president.
“I have come to file nomination. A panel is ready, with Mithun Manhas for the post of president, me for vice president, Devajit Saikia for secretary, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia for joint secretary and Raghuram Bhatt for treasurer. There is a nomination for the names decided for the governing council. So, a new body is being formed for the next tenure. Good luck to all,” Shukla told reporters.”
Manhas confirmed as presidential candidate
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, also present at the headquarters, confirmed that Manhas’s paperwork had been completed. “Mithun Manhas filed his nomination in front of me,” Saikia said.
Manhas is currently the only contender for the BCCI presidency, a position that has remained vacant since Roger Binny stepped down in August, with Rajeev Shukla serving as interim president, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Background on Manhas
An accomplished domestic player, Manhas represented Delhi between 1997 and 2017, featuring in 157 first-class matches and scoring 9,714 runs. He also played 130 List A games, tallying 4,126 runs, and 91 T20s, with 1,170 runs to his name.
Since retiring in 2016, Manhas has remained active in cricket administration and coaching. He serves on a BCCI-appointed sub-committee overseeing the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association. His coaching stints include roles with IPL franchises Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans, as well as batting consultant with Bangladesh’s Under-19 team.
Key discussions ahead of elections
According to ESPNcricinfo, Manhas’s name was finalized during an informal meeting in Delhi on Saturday, which included BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, Shukla, Saikia, Delhi and District Cricket Association president Rohan Jaitley, and former board secretary Niranjan Shah. The same discussions also placed former India spinner Raghuram Bhatt, currently president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, in line for the treasurer’s post.
Upcoming elections
The BCCI elections for various office bearers will be held on September 28 in Mumbai during the board’s annual general meeting, where the panel is expected to be formally ratified.
