"What is happening...": Jay Shah gives BCCI a massive headache after joining ICC

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been facing a massive headache since the time Jay Shah was appointed as the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC). As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that the Indian governing body is clueless as to who would fill the shoes of Shah.

Jay Shah taking over the charge of the International Cricket Council (ICC) meant that the position of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary became vacant. It has been more than two months since Shah was named as the new ICC chair, and he took the role on 1st December.

Joint Secretary Devjit Saikia or Gujarat Cricket Association's Anil Patel likely to be interim secretary of BCCI after Jay Shah

However, even though it was decided long back that Jay Shah would be succeeding Greg Barclay, the BCCI didn't look for any new candidate. Shah held the position of secretary since 2021, but so far, no replacement has been named for him even after four days of him joining as ICC chair.

The names of BCCI joint secretary Devjit Saikia and Gujarat Cricket Association's Anil Patel are floating around to take over the secretary's role. But nothing has been confirmed yet and it might take some more time to reveal the new secretary of the BCCI.

We don’t know what is happening, everyone (BCCI officials and state units) is quiet on the matter - Source on appointment of BCCI secretary

A source close to BCCI claimed that no one inside the BCCI knows what is happening. He claimed that the joint secretary would be taking over the role on an interim basis and added that whosoever will be joining the position should know how to run things. Speaking to PTI, he explained:

"We don’t know what is happening. Everyone (BCCI officials and state units) is quiet on the matter. Most likely joint secretary (Saikia) will be interim for the time being. Some issues need to be dealt with on a day-to-day basis and anyone who comes in needs to have a bit of knowledge on how the BCCI is run."

Transition should have been complete by now - BCCI official on replacement of Jay Shah

The official further mentioned that the replacement of Jay Shah should have been announced by then. He stressed that the matter should've been discussed in the AGM in September but no one questioned. He elaborated:

“Transition should have been complete by now. The secretary has to sign the majority of documents. This matter should have been taken up at the AGM (in September) but nobody questioned at that time."

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still has time till 15th January to name the new secretary. As per the rules of the Board, a replacement of any office bearer can be announced within 45 days of his resignation after a General Body meeting. It remains to be seen who will be the new secretary of the governing body.

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