BCCI has just made major changes in leadership! Devajit Saikia steps 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 was acting as interim secretary from December 1, 2024, officially took charge during the SGM. His appointment followed the election of Jay Shah for International Cricket Council (ICC) President.
As per the BCCI statute, any vacancy must be filled within 45 days. Sunday’s meeting in Mumbai marked the 43rd day since Shah stepped down as secretary.
Prabhtej Bhatia elected unopposed as treasurer
Prabhtej Bhatia, the only candidate for the treasurer’s role, has also been confirmed in his new position. Both Saikia and Bhatia were unopposed in their nominations.
Their appointments are expected to bring stability of BCCI administrative structure, which has undergone several changes in the past few months.
Focus on Indian test matches
Apart from the appointments, the SGM included a detailed discussion on India’s recent struggles in Test cricket. The board members and the team management have expressed concern over the team’s batting performance, especially in overseas conditions.
A source close to the BCCI told Sports Tak, “The meeting was detailed, with lengthy discussions on the team’s performance, particularly the batting line-up. The management wanted to understand why the Indian batsmen, despite a strong line-up, were not able to perform. They also focused on identifying the root causes and how to correct 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 wicket-keeper batsman, scoring 53 runs and taking nine dismissals.
After his brief cricketing career, Saikia turned to law and started practicing at the Gauhati High Court in Assam. It has also collaborated with Northern Frontier Railways and 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 guidance of Hemanta Biswasarma, who is now the Chief Minister of Assam, Saikia rose through the ranks to become the ACA Secretary in 2019. In 2022, he was elected as the BCCI Joint Secretary.
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