No internal arrangement, I was unanimously appointed: Ajay Shirke

Ajay Shirke began his second innings as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office-bearer yesterday after being unanimously appointed as Secretary till September 2017 in place of Anurag Thakur, who was yesterday elected president

Ajay Shirke began his second innings as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office-bearer yesterday after being unanimously appointed as Secretary till September 2017 in place of Anurag Thakur, who was yesterday elected president.

BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke at the Board's headquarters in Churchgate. Pic/Atul Kamble

Shirke was the treasurer of the Board when he stepped down on moral grounds after the IPL spot fixing scandal broke out in 2013.

"I was requested to come back. In the circumstances, I agreed to take up the responsibility and I would be happy to contribute in whatever way I can," Shirke told mid-day yesterday.

"There are challenges in every organisation. Relatively, the BCCI is a very well-known body. We are now strengthened by a lot of professional managers on all fronts. So, we have a team that can tackle every challenge," he added.

Shirke is a close aide of Shashank Manohar, who resigned as BCCI president recently. Manohar is now the first independent chairman of the International Cricket Council.

'Manohar's contribution cannot be questioned'
It is learnt, Manohar's move has not gone down well with several Board members, who suspect an arrangement made between Manohar, Shirke and Thakur.

"I don't think so. Manohar's contribution cannot be questioned in any shape, form or manner. He has made an immense contribution to the Board. It was his personal decision to move. He has very clearly specified things in his press conference on Saturday. I don't think we should go into that any further," said Shirke.

Manohar made his reservations known against some of the Lodha Commission recommendations clear. According to him, the recommendations will "destroy cricket in India".

Meanwhile, there were concerns raised in the BCCI Working Committee yesterday on how to differentiate between the role of CEO and secretary, who according to the BCCI's constitution is the chief executive of the Board. "The entire structure will be defined and by the first week of June, there will be complete clarity on it," Shirke concluded.

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