Dalmiya is the new chief of BCCI

CHENNAI, SEPT. 29. Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya will be the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He had served as the BCCI secretary, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman earlier.

At the Board's 72nd annual general meeting, here on Saturday, Mr. Dalmiya (Bengal), defeated incumbent Mr. A.C. Muthiah (Tamil Nadu) 17-13 in a day of dramatic developments.

However, Mr. Niranjan Shah (Sourashtra), belonging to Mr. Muthiah's group, was elected BCCI secretary. He edged out present occupant, Mr. Jayawant Lele (Baroda) 16-15, with the president's casting vote making the difference in the end.

Mr. Jyoti Bajpai (Uttar Pradesh) was elected joint secretary, getting the better of M.P. Pandove (Punjab) 17-13. And Mr. Kishore Rungta (Rajasthan) stayed as treasurer, overcoming Mr. D.C. Agashe (Maharashtra) 16-14.

Following a consensus among the members, status quo was maintained with regard to the vice-presidents. Messrs. C.K. Khanna (North), Kamal Morarka (Central), Narahari Amin (West), K.M. Ramprasad (South) and Dr. P.K. Misra (East) would continue in their roles.

During the meeting, the services of Ms. Nalini Chidambaram, a leading lawyer, were sought on the issue of eligibility of Bihar, Baroda and Goa to vote.

These associations had come under a cloud for varying reasons in recent months. On the basis of the advice received, Mr. Muthiah ruled against Goa voting, while Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav's faction in Bihar, and Baroda-here Mr. Lele was restrained by a court order from casting his vote-were allowed to participate in the proceedings. This meant members from 29 associations and the president voted.

Talking to the media after his election, Mr. Dalmiya said that the members had wanted a change, though this did not suggest that they had disapproved of Mr. Muthiah's performance.

``He is my friend. He has done a good job. We need his services and we hope he will be involved in the important issues facing the Board,'' said Mr. Dalmiya about Mr. Muthiah.

Mr. Dalmiya indicated that he would be carrying the entire team with him irrespective of the factions, and added the Board would continue to function in a democratic manner.

On the need to take up the top BCCI job after having headed the ICC, Mr. Dalmiya noted the circumstances might have been extraordinary.

He said he felt ``honoured'' to be elected as the BCCI president and hinted at the Board moving in a new direction, without deviating too much from the decisions taken during Mr. Muthiah's tenure. Addressing presspersons, Mr. Muthiah said the members might have wanted a change. In an election, winning and losing were a part of the game he pointed out and added he was not disappointed. ``I am sure my successor would lead the Board well.''

On legal advice sought during the day, Mr. Muthiah said this revealed the Board did not function in an arbitrary manner. On the threat from Goa to take the matter to court, he stated it was free to do so.

Mr. Muthiah, who headed the Board during a particularly stormy phase, with the match-fixing scandal raising its head said, ``It was a challenging period. We had to take some bold decisions. This was acknowledged by the others too. I am quite satisfied at my tenure.'' He sounded confident that the new president and his team would keep up the good work.

Touching on domestic cricket, Mr. Muthiah said that the need was to produce more quality players and hoped the initiatives taken in this regard would continue under Mr. Dalmiya. Mr. Muthiah signed off by saying he would only be happy to contribute to the BCCI in the future too.

Mr. Niranjan Shah said, ``I am not too happy since my president had lost. I would sit with the new president and work in a cordial atmosphere.''

On Mr. Dalmiya he said, ``I know him for 25 years. I know he is an able administrator.'' On his own election, he revealed, ``maybe they (the members) like my style of functioning. Maybe they were anti-Lele votes.''

Other issues like the composition of the various panels, would be taken up on Sunday.

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