The BCCI just made some big leadership changes! Devajit Saikia is stepping in as the new secretary, while Prabhtej Bhatia takes over as treasurer. These appointments were confirmed at a Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai.
Saikia Takes Over from Jay Shah
Devajit Saikia, who had been serving as the interim secretary since December 1, 2024, officially took over the position during the SGM. His appointment follows Jay Shah’s election as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman.
As per the BCCI constitution, any vacant post must be filled within 45 days. Sunday’s meeting in Mumbai marked the 43rd day since Shah vacated the secretary position.
Prabhtej Bhatia Elected Unopposed as Treasurer
Prabhtej Bhatia, the sole applicant for the treasurer role, has also been confirmed in his new position. Both Saikia and Bhatia were unopposed in their respective nominations.
Their appointments are expected to bring stability to the BCCI’s administrative structure, which has seen several changes over the past few months.
Focus on India’s Test Struggles
Apart from the appointments, the SGM featured a detailed discussion about India’s recent struggles in Test cricket. The board members and team management expressed concerns over the team’s batting performances, particularly in overseas conditions.
A source close to the BCCI told Sports Tak, “The meeting was detailed, with lengthy discussions on the team’s performance, especially the batting lineup. Management wanted to understand why Indian batters, despite having a strong lineup, have not been able to perform. They also focused on identifying the core reasons and how to rectify them.”
Who Is Devajit Saikia?
Devajit Saikia, a former cricketer turned lawyer, has been involved in cricket administration for several years. He played four first-class matches between 1990 and 1991 as a wicketkeeper-batter, scoring 53 runs and taking nine dismissals.
After his brief cricket career, Saikia pursued law and began practising at The Gauhati High Court in Assam. He also worked with the Northern Frontier Railways and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through sports quotas.
In 2016, Saikia entered cricket administration as one of the six vice presidents of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA). Under the leadership of Hemanta Biswasarma, who is now the Chief Minister of Assam, Saikia rose through the ranks and became the ACA secretary in 2019. In 2022, he was elected as the BCCI joint secretary.
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