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BCCI President Twist: What Is The Eligibility Criteria And How Elections Take Place

Rajgeeta Yadav

BCCI President elections and criteria [Source: AFP]BCCI President elections and criteria [Source: AFP]

Roger Binny recently stepped down as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after turning 70. This is because the BCCI’s constitution clearly states that no office-bearer can continue after that age. In his place, Rajeev Shukla has been named the interim president. 

However, this is only a temporary arrangement until the next Annual General Meeting (AGM). Moreover, it is quite unlikely that Shukla will continue permanently, since the board is reportedly looking for a high-profile figure, similar to former president Sourav Ganguly.

Now that a change in leadership has taken place, many people are curious: how is the BCCI president actually elected, and why is this process significant? Let’s break it down. 

To begin with, BCCI is made up of different state cricket associations. Each association sends representatives to the BCCI’s General Body. These representatives play a key role because they not only take important decisions but also elect office-bearers, including the President.

Who Can Become BCCI President?

In order to be eligible, a candidate must meet some basic conditions:

  • Firstly, the person must be an active member of a state cricket association.
  • Secondly, they cannot hold an office in any other sports body, to avoid conflicts of interest.
  • Thirdly, they should not have any criminal background or have violated BCCI’s constitution.

How Does The Nomination Work?

The process starts with nominations. Each state association can put forward one name for the president’s post. Along with the nomination, documents are submitted to the BCCI’s Electoral Officer, which include the candidate’s background and proof of eligibility.

After that, a scrutiny process takes place, where all nominations are checked carefully. If the candidate meets the requirements, their name is included in the final list.

If only one candidate is cleared, then there is no voting, and the candidate becomes the president automatically. However, if there is more than one candidate, an election is held.

How the Election is Conducted

When elections are needed, they are carried out through a secret ballot. This means every representative of the state cricket associations casts one confidential vote. The candidate who receives the majority becomes the President.

The entire process is supervised by Electoral Officer to ensure it is fair and transparent. Importantly, the outgoing president also gets to vote since they chair the AGM where elections are held.

The post of BCCI President is rotated among the five cricketing zones of India, ensuring regional balance. Furthermore, one person can hold the post for a maximum of three years.