Former cricketer-turned-lawyer Devajit Saikia has been officially appointed as the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The announcement was made during the BCCI Special General Meeting (SGM) on Sunday, 43 days after the position fell vacant following Jay Shah’s elevation to ICC Chairman.
Saikia, who had been serving as interim secretary since December 1, was the sole candidate for the role. Alongside him, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia was elected as the new treasurer, replacing Ashish Shelar, who resigned to take up a role in the Maharashtra government. The elections were overseen by Achal Kumar Joti, the BCCI’s returning officer and former Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Who is Devajit Saikia?
Devajit Saikia’s cricketing career was brief, with only four first-class matches played between 1990 and 1991, where he scored 53 runs and took nine wickets. Transitioning from cricket, Saikia pursued law and became a practising advocate in the Guwahati High Court at the age of 28.
His entry into cricket administration in 2016 was unexpected. “It was never my intention to be a cricket or sports administrator. Even today, I don’t like being an administrator,” Saikia admitted in an interview. He felt “compelled” to step into administration after witnessing corruption in Assam’s cricketing circles.
The newly appointed secretary faces significant challenges, including guiding the Indian cricket team through upcoming tournaments like the Champions Trophy 2025. On Saturday, Saikia, alongside BCCI President Roger Binny, met with head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma at a Mumbai hotel to discuss the team’s performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla expressed optimism about the leadership changes, confirming the appointment of Saikia and Bhatia while announcing the upcoming IPL season, slated to begin on March 23.