19 October,2022 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
The newly elected BCCI team (L to R) MKJ Majumdar (apex council member), Avishek Dalmiya (IPL governing council), Devajit Saikia (joint secretary), Jay Shah (secretary), Roger Binny (president), Rajiv Shukla (vice-president), Ashish Shelar (treasurer) and Arun Singh Dhumal (IPL governing council chairman). Pic/PTI
India's 1983 World Cup-winning team player and former national selector Roger Binny, 67, who was elected unopposed as BCCI's 36th president during board's Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday, is well prepared with his plans and strategy to strengthen Indian cricket. The first goal for Bangalore-based Binny appears to be tackling player fitness.
While addressing the media for the first time as a BCCI chief, Binny remarked: "Players getting frequently injured is a concern and we wish to get to the bottom of it all and see how it can be changed for the better. We have excellent doctors and trainers at the National Cricket Academy [in Bangalore], but must look to reduce injuries and improve recovery [methods]" Binny said. When asked if India needs to have three teams for three different formats to manage the workload, Binny said: "We will discuss that to avoid injuries."
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Binny, who represented the country in 27 Tests and 72 ODIs, is also keen to improve the standard of pitches in the country. "We need to develop pitches in India. There needs to be more life in the wickets at home, so that our teams don't have a problem adjusting when travelling abroad, like in Australia where there's more pace and bounce."
Meanwhile, former India captain and BCCI's outgoing president Sourav Ganguly said: "I wish Roger all the best. The new group will take this forward. The BCCI is in great hands. Indian cricket is strong. I wish them all the luck."
The BCCI AGM authorised their office-bearers to take a decision on the BCCI's representative to the International Cricket Council. The BCCI Apex Council will now elect the new Cricket Advisory Committee and the next national selection committee.