Devajit Saikia is the new BCCI secretary, succeeding Shah, who became ICC Chairman. Saikia has served as interim secretary since December 1. The BCCI constitution mandates filling vacant posts within 45 days, making Sunday’s meeting timely on the 43rd day.
Former cricketer Devajit Saikia has been appointed as the new secretary of the BCCI. The post fell vacant after former secretary Shah took over as ICC chairman last month.
Saikia has been serving as interim secretary of the BCCI since Jay Shah’s departure on December 1. The BCCI constitution stipulates that any vacancy should be filled within 45 days by convening an SGM, and Sunday’s meeting fell well within that timeframe, as it was held on the 43rd day.
Along with Saikia, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia was also officially elected as the BCCI treasurer at the BCCI Special General Meeting (SGM) on Sunday. Bhatia replaces Ashish Shelar, who recently resigned from the post after taking up a position in the Maharashtra government. Notably, Saikia and Prabhtej were the only candidates in the fray for the vacant posts after the BCCI’s returning officer and former CEC of India, Achal Kumar Joti, finalised the list on Tuesday.
Devajit Saikia had a very short cricketing career, playing just four first-class matches between 1990 and 1991, scoring 53 runs and taking 9 wickets. After his cricketing days, Saikia became a lawyer at the age of 28 and started practising in the Guwahati High Court.
The 55-year-old made his foray into cricket administration in 2016, but he insists that he never wanted to be in administration, but was ” compelled” to take up the role after seeing corruption in Assam’s cricket administration.