Chaudhary in the race for top BCCI post
East Zone units are planning to put up their own candidate for the top post of the BCCI, giving the succession battle a new twist following the demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya, according to news reports.
Although early indications suggested that former president Sharad Pawar and Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla were frontrunners, it appears unlikely that either will get a proposer and seconder from the East Zone.
East Zone has six votes comprising Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura and National Cricket Club (NCC) and, in all likelihood, will field joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary of Jharkhand as its BCCI president candidate.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that East Zone officials had an informal discussion over the past two days and concluded that until 2017 the president should be someone from their own Zone.
“The East Zone states want that somebody from the zone becomes the president . At this point of time, Amitabh Chaudhary fits the bill perfectly," a BCCI official from East Zone told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“He had been an IPS officer, has managed Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), has attended AGM and is an office-bearer. At least, four East Zone units will back Chaudhary's candidature.
“Our contention is till 2017, it should be someone from the East Zone . If not, then one can't rule out the possibility of an election. You can be rest assured if Pawar fights, CAB and NCC won't vote for him.”