Saurashtra’s Niranjan Shah is considered close to the Sharad Pawar group in the BCCI.
There was a time when, as BCCI secretary in 2002, he did not hit it off with the then-president Jagmohan Dalmiya, but enjoyed freedom when elected secretary again for three years from 2005.
The unpleasantness surrounding the IPL — match fixing and betting allegations — has disturbed him and he feels Shashank Manohar’s probable return as president would benefit the BCCI in the form of firm and better administration in the immediate future.
Sharing his thoughts with The Hindu on the recent developments after Dalmiya’s death, he said: “It’s not been good for the BCCI in the last two or three years; it had a tarnished look in front of the cricketing fraternity in India, among the international community and the Supreme Court. Shashank (Manohar) has a clean image and he will take decisions on important matters without any hesitation. He is the right man to lead the BCCI now. He will have a good team in Pawar, myself, Ajay Shirke and Anurag Thakur,” said Shah, who has represented Saurashtra in BCCI meetings for four decades.
Shah faulted the IPL Governing Council for not taking a decision on the two suspended teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. “The BCCI has a task ahead to improve its image and also the IPL tournament,” said Shah.
