Manohar is consensus candidate: Thakur

Shashank Manohar, who was persuaded to take up the responsibility for the second time, was acceptable to both the groups in the Board, as he is seen as the most suited person to guide the Board in this time of crisis.

Shashank Manohar... all set to succeed Jagmohan Dalmiya as the BCCI President.

The speculation over the election of the new Indian cricket board (BCCI) President was put to rest when the Secretary of the Board, Anurag Thakur, on Tuesday disclosed that former BCCI chief Shashank Manohar would be the ‘consensus candidate’ for the high-profile post.

Several names, including that of former BCCI President Sharad Pawar, Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council Chairman Rajeev Shukla and Manohar, had been doing the rounds as possible candidates for the vacant post after the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya.

Thakur, who briefly visited the Palam Ground during the warm-up match between India ‘A’ and South Africa, told reporters that in all likelihood Manohar would succeed Dalmiya.

“Shashank Manohar is our consensus candidate,” said Thakur when queried about the possible aspirants for the coveted post.

According to informed sources, Manohar, who served as the Board President from 2008 to 2011, had got the backing of the states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It is believed that Manohar is also supported by the group led by Pawar.

Manohar, who was persuaded to take up the responsibility for the second time, was acceptable to both the sides as he is seen as the most suited person to guide the Board in this time of crisis.

Manohar’s election will considerably weaken former president N. Srinivasan-led group’s control over the Board.

The BCCI Secretary informed that the scrutiny of the candidates for the post would be done on October 3 and the next Board President would be elected at the Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai the following day.

Thakur said anybody, including Srinivasan from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, could vote but the former BCCI chief cannot not attend the meeting.

On October 5, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear whether Srinivasan can attend BCCI meetings or not.

Meanwhile, Thakur and Shukla on Tuesday appeared before the Supreme Court-appointed three-member Justice (retd) R. M. Lodha Commission to discuss the reforms the BCCI is planning to carry out in its functioning.

“I met the Lodha Commission for an hour. It was a very fruitful meeting,” said Thakur.

In July, the Lodha Commission had recommended a two-year suspension of IPL sides Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for corruption and had suspended CSK Team Principal and Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and RR co-owner Raj Kundra for life for indulging in betting.