Niranjan Shah appointed as chief executive of SCA, yet to accept offer

Niranjan Shah, who presided over the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) as its secretary for over four decades before being made ineligible by a Supreme Court order, has now been offered the post of chief executive in SCA. However, the veteran administrator revealed he is yet to accept the offer. The news of Shah’s appointment was confirmed by SCA joint-secretary Madhukar Worah in its governing body meeting on May 27.

He was disqualified to function as an SCA office-bearer on two counts, according to the Lodha Committee recommendation accepted by the court — over 70 years of age and completed nine years in office. Although a chief executive is not technically an office-bearer, Shah’s proposed appointment was considered to be contradicting the verdict of SC’s ruling of July 18, 2016.

“Shri Madhukar Worah informed the governing body, after requesting Mr. Niranjan Shah to leave the meeting, as confirmed in earlier Governing Body meeting and Annual General Meeting, the appointment of Mr. Niranjan Shah as the chief executive. Mr. Worah informed the governing body that Mr. Niranjan Shah shall inform in due course feasible date to join as Chief Executive,” the minutes of the meeting read.

CoA to mention developments in next status report

The SCA ruled that the appointment of Shah as the CEO was made to neutralize the void that it had expected to be left behind after the implementation of Lodha reforms. The appointment was also made to look after the ‘larger interest of the state association.

If Shah indeed accepts the post, the Committee of Administrators ( (CoA) may mention the development in its next status report, which is to be filed with the Supreme Court before the next hearing on September 19.

The CoA will also submit the draft of the new BCCI constitution to the Supreme Court. The process to draw up the new constitution started Friday morning.