New Delhi, Sep 20: Former Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas has emerged as the leading contender for the post of BCCI president, as key cricket administrators and decision makers held an informal meeting in the capital on Saturday to shortlist candidates for vacant positions ahead of the Board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 28.
Sources indicate that while Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president Raghuram Bhatt was also among those under consideration, Manhas appears to be the frontrunner for the top post. The 44-year-old, who also served as Director of Cricket Operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), brings vast domestic experience, having played 157 first-class matches and scoring 9,714 runs at an average of 45 with 27 centuries.
Manhas, who featured in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, and Pune Warriors, could succeed current BCCI president Roger Binny. Meanwhile, Bhatt, whose KSCA tenure ends on September 30, may be inducted into one of the other key positions within the Board.
The meeting also discussed potential changes in the selection committees. It was confirmed that former India spinner Pragyan Ojha will replace S Sharath in the national senior men’s selection panel headed by Ajit Agarkar. Sharath will take over as chairman of the junior selection committee, replacing VS Thilak Naidu, while former India pacer RP Singh will replace Subroto Banerjee.
The reshuffle comes at a crucial time as the BCCI also seeks a new IPL chairman, with Arun Dhumal expected to go on a mandatory cooling-off period after completing six years in office. The revamped panels will officially take charge from September 28, while the current selection committee will announce the Indian squad for the upcoming two-Test home series against the West Indies beginning October 2.