BJP MP officially takes over as Board president, says Lodha panel recommendations can be turned into 'opportunity'
Along expected lines, Anurag Thakur on Sunday became the second youngest president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the age of 41.
Coming from a political family where he grew up under his chief minister father Prem Kumar Dhumal, Thakur's journey to the top has been rapid.
On Sunday too, he showed glimpses of his impatience. It seems that Thakur is a man in hurry. And that's why he took no time before announcing that Team India will have a head coach soon, probably to checkmate the Justice RM Lodha panel's suggested reforms, which are likely to be implemented by the Supreme Court.
From starting his political journey in cricket in 2000 to becoming BCCI president in 2016, Thakur could well give any accomplished administrator complex. However, the challenges facing him are much more serious than what any of his predecessors might have faced.
Thakur is taking over at a time when the Board is fighting for its own existence in the aftermath of IPL spot-fixing charges, which prompted SC to make its working transparent and in line of public function through the Lodha committee.
"Where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity," Thakur told reporters in Mumbai after the Board's special general meeting on Sunday. "It all depends on one's perspective. I see an opportunity that this is the time to deliver."
Asked if he was prepared for the testing times ahead due to the sweeping reforms suggested by the Lodha panel, Thakur said: "We are not running away from Lodha committee recommendations but we are in favour of using recommendations which are practical.
"Improvement in anything is a perennial process, but often improvement does not require reinventing the wheel. Minor course corrections are necessary and they will be taken as and when necessary," he added.
Meanwhile, Thakur appointed Ajay Shirke as his secretary to keep a balance with the Sharad Pawar group. Santosh Ragnekar has been named as the new chief financial officer (CFO) of the BCCI.
Shirke previously served as BCCI treasurer, resigning from the post in 2013 because he was unhappy with the Board's response to the IPL spot-fixing scandal.
Thakur also announced BCCI's initiative to reserve at least 10 per cent seats in all stadiums for students, girls and differently-abled citizens to popularise Test cricket in the country. In order to ensure transparency, all state associations have been instructed by Thakur to be active on social media platforms and engage more with the media and fans alike.
The Board has also allotted Rs 100 crore for turning the existing stadiums into 'green-stadiums' by facilitating rain-water harvesting and installing solar panels. In addition, BCCI has also reserved Rs 5 crore for the blind, deaf and dumb Indian cricket teams.
Thakur will represent the BCCI on the International Cricket Council (ICC) executive board and the Asian Cricket Council, while Shirke will represent the BCCI at the chief executives committee meetings of the ICC.
THAKUR GETS CRACKING
Below are the major announcements made by Anurag Thakur after taking over as BCCI president...
* BCCI to give advertisement for India team's chief coach's post. The deadline to submit applications is June 10
* Rs 100 crore earmarked for one-year water conservation project to conserve water during crisis like drought
* Rs 5 crore corpus created for next five years to help the visually challenged and deaf and dumb cricketers
* Santosh Rangnekar appointed new chief financial officer (CFO) as part of reforms suggested by Lodha panel
* Minimum 10 per cent free tickets allocated for girl students and specially-abled persons for international matches
* Specially designated seating area for physically challenged persons
* All stadiums in India to have seats with numbers for convenience of spectators
* All state units to create official Facebook/Twitter accounts as well as have websites with relevant information and statistics
* Creating 'Mobile Coaching App' licensed by BCCI which can be used in cricket academies in remote areas
* Implementation of Central Contracts for India's women cricketers and a detailed report sought within a month
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