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Regular-article-logo Monday, 23 June 2025

I'm a citizen of India: Ajay Shirke

"I'm a citizen of India and hold a passport issued by the government of India. I'm not an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), nor am I a Person of Indian Origin (PIO). I hold neither card. If you so wish, please set the record straight."

LOKENDRA PRATAP SAHI Published 17.05.16, 12:00 AM
Shirke
AS FIRST REPORTED IN THESE COLUMNS, LAST THURSDAY, BOARD SECRETARY ANURAG THAKUR WOULD BE ELEVATED. THAT, THEN, WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER VACANCY AND SHIRKE IS VERY MUCH IN THE RUNNING TO SUCCEED THAKUR

Calcutta: "I'm a citizen of India and hold a passport issued by the government of India. I'm not an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), nor am I a Person of Indian Origin (PIO). I hold neither card. If you so wish, please set the record straight."

Ajay Shirke, the president of the Maharashtra Cricket Association and a former treasurer of the Board, couldn't have been more forthright during his conversation with The Telegraph on Monday afternoon.

Shirke added: "Even if I was a PIO or an OCI, nothing in the Board's constitution bars me from holding any office."

National selector Vikram Rathour, incidentally, is an OCI.

Shirke is currently in London, but will be back in India on Friday night well in time for the Board's SGM on Sunday.

The SGM has been called to fill the vacancy caused by Shashank Manohar's resignation as the Board president.

As first reported in these columns, last Thursday, Board secretary Anurag Thakur would be elevated.

That, then, will lead to another vacancy and Shirke is very much in the running to succeed Thakur.

Some regard Shirke as the front runner, if that's possible in positions associated with the Board, where equations could change quicker than turnstiles in operation.

Rajeev Shukla, like Thakur a Parliamentarian, is also widely said to be in the frame for the same post.

However, late in the day, one learnt that Shukla may actually prefer waiting for the Supreme Court's order on the implementation of the Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha committee's recommendations.

That would only be on/after June 29, when the Supreme Court reopens after its customary summer vacation.

If Shukla doesn't show much keenness at this point in time, he'll probably move fast if Thakur gets a ministry in the next reshuffle of the Narendra Modi cabinet.

But what's the connection between a cabinet reshuffle and the Justice Lodha committee's recommendations?

Well, one of the recommendations of the Justice Lodha committee is that ministers should not be office-bearers of the Board.

If Shukla indeed is thinking on those lines, then he'd be taking a gamble.

Whatever, Shirke's chances will improve dramatically if Shukla is no longer a contender for the secretary's position.

Shirke wasn't inclined to talk about the possibility of his becoming the next secretary of the Board, but repeated what he'd told this Reporter the other day.

"I have other things to do in life than just angling for a post. I'm not calling up people to ask for support. That's not my nature," Shirke insisted.

Former India cricketer Brijesh Patel would have been a good option, but most feel that he's been too closely identified with Narayanswami Srinivasan, who is a persona non grata for the Thakurs.

Patel, back as the secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, wasn't available for comment, but a confidant did have something to say.

"For years, Brijesh was seen as (Jagmohan) Dalmiya's man... Now, he's seen as Srinivasan's man... Such labels, it seems, are only for Brijesh," the confidant pointed out with a touch of sarcasm.

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