Amitabh Choudhary, Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) president, has added another feather in his cap by becoming the first ever cricket administrator from the Bihar-Jharkhand region to clinch the post of joint secretary, one of the four top positions in the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI).

'It's a great feeling. Good for overall prospects of cricket in Jharkhand,' said Choudhary, the man credited with giving the state its first world-class cricket stadium in Ranchi.

Soon after his arrival in Ranchi from Chennai on Tuesday afternoon, the former IPS officer received a grand welcome. JSCA officials decked him up with garlands and held a roadshow in his honour.

Choudhary, who has pulled off many an election in the local cricket association, had his task cut at Monday's power-packed annual general meeting (AGM) of BCCI held in Chennai.

Pitted against Goa Cricket Association secretary Chetan Desai, the BCCI contest was deadlocked with both contenders bagging 15 votes each. It was left to AGM chairman Shivlal Yadav's deciding vote for Choudhary to win.

During the days of undivided Bihar, one Arun Narayan Singh had become BCCI vice-president, in effect a light-weight post considering that in practice only the president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer attend BCCI meetings where crucial decisions are taken.

Choudhary said his becoming BCCI joint secretary was symbolic of Jharkhand's rising popularity as venue for national cricket competitions.

'As you know, BCCI is a conglomeration of state associations. Each has a role to play. It is only by virtue of being a BCCI member that Ranchi today boasts a world-class stadium. Aspiring players from places like Torpa and Khunti can now dream of donning state and national colours. Who could have predicted this?,' he quipped.

JSCA is known to have been nursing an ambitious dream of setting up an academy on the lines of Bangalore's National Cricket Academy. Choudhary did not deny the plan.

'BCCI has plans of setting up cricket academies in five zones - north, south, east, west and central. The good news is that Ranchi will host the one in the east,' he said.

On Ranchi missing out on IPL matches this year, Choudhary said he hadn't given up hope.

'JSCA is trying hard to get a few matches. The recent ruckus created by Bhojpuri Dabanggs during the Celebrity Cricket League match has actually damaged Ranchi's reputation. IPL is a format where franchisees have their say in choosing venues. Still, we are pursuing the matter,' he signed off.