In a move that has caught the cricket fraternity off guard, Mithun Manhas is tipped to become the next president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The final decision is expected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 28, but various reports suggest that Manhas has already been zeroed in on as the top choice. He is expected to file his nomination on Sunday, representing the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Cricket Association.
Who is Mithun Manhas, new BCCI President?
Manhas, 45, has no international caps but is widely regarded as one of Indian domestic cricket’s most consistent performers. Across 18 years of first-class cricket, he scored 9,714 runs in 157 matches. His List A record is equally significant, with 130 appearances.
On the IPL front, he turned out for Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors, and Chennai Super Kings. While his name doesn’t carry the aura of Sourav Ganguly or Roger Binny, the two most recent BCCI presidents, his elevation would be massive for Jammu and Kashmir cricket. From captaining Delhi in Ranji Trophy and later serving as an administrator in Jammu and Kashmir, Manhas now looks set to sit in one of the most powerful chairs in world cricket.
The development followed a closed-door meeting in Delhi on Saturday night, attended by senior administrators and decision-makers. According to multiple reports, it was almost unanimously agreed that Manhas would be the candidate to take over from Binny. This marks the first time an uncapped player will head the BCCI, which is certainly quite surprising considering Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh’s names were also tipped.
Unprecedented move by BCCI
The AGM on September 28 is set to bring more clarity not just on the presidency but also on other key positions within the board. Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh will attend as representatives of their respective state associations, though neither seems set for a prominent role this time. Raghuram Bhat, the former India left-arm spinner, was also considered for the top post but appears more likely to be handed another position in the apex council.
As things stand, several office-bearers, including secretary Devajit Saikia, joint secretary Rohan Dessai, treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia and vice-president Rajeev Shukla, are expected to retain their posts. Arun Dhumal’s status as IPL chairman remains in question, with murmurs about whether he falls under the cooling-off clause.
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