Mumbai Cricket Association president Ravi Savant made his maiden entry into the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) yesterday when interim president Jagmohan Dalmiya entrusted him with the key post of treasurer in New Delhi.
Last week, Dalmiya named Sanjay Patel for the BCCI’s secretary post after Sanjay Jagdale quit in the wake of spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League. Ajay Shirke, who heads the Maharashtra Cricket Association, relinquished the treasurer’s post.u00a0
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Ravi Savant
Savant, who served MCA as vice-president and treasurer in the past, felt his qualification of being a chartered accountant helped him get the BCCI post. “I don’t think being a treasurer (of MCA in the past) worked this time. I am currently the president of the MCA. My qualification helped me get this post since they (BCCI) know I wouldn’t find it difficult adopting to any accounting procedures and handling accounts,” Savant told MiD DAY.
“There was a vacancy this time. I have a very short period in hand as we have to call a (general body) meeting in September. I consider it an honour that the Board has counted on me.” However, Savant’s appointment was not a smooth process. Former Board chief IS Bindra reportedly questioned Dalmiya’s authority to name Patel and Savant as BCCI’s secretary and treasurer respectively. Rajasthan Cricket Association president CP Joshi joined the chorus.
Savant reportedly counterattacked Bindra’s point with a clause in the BCCI Constitution which allows to convene and conduct a meeting if five members of the working committee propose his name. u00a0He is confident that the BCCI will overcome these challenging times. “It is difficult time for the BCCI. My responsibility will be the same, but under prevailing circumstances, the focus will be more. The Board in general will be more in focus,” Savant said.
Shetty vs Savant?
Savant’s appointment as treasurer could give rise to some level of coordination with Prof Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s General Manager, Game Development. The relationship between the two officials is anything but cordial since Savant and his fellow MCA managing committee members recently banned Shetty for five years following a ticket-related controversy.
Last year, Savant had pipped Shetty for the MCA president’s post after the demise of Vilasrao Deshmukh. Shetty offered to quit from the association’s vice-president post, but later changed his decision. Apparently, the managing committee had already accepted Shetty’s verbalu00a0resignation. u00a0
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