Devajit Saikia another Assam cricketer has been appointed as the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) replacing Jay Shah. The position was left open since Shah joined the board as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
One can easily understand how Saikia’s appointment is a seminal change for the BCCI. He kick-started his term by attending a session with BCCI president Roger Binny, team India captain Rohit Sharma, and coach Gautam Gambhir. The meeting mainly discussed India’s showing in the most recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
From cricket ground to the apex cricket administration, Saikia’s educational background is a fine amalgamation of cricket, law, and administration. Saikia was a first-class cricketer for Assam in early 1990s and he could play just four matches as wicketkeeper and he scored 53 runs and effected nine dismissals.
Owing to his carnar vital career, Saikia immediately took a legal profession, at an age of 28, in the Gauhati High Court. In those early years as a sportsman he used to work in Northern Frontier Railways and Reserve Bank of India as a quota player.
Saikia stepped into the cricket administration in 2016 as a vice-president of ACA when Hemanta Biwsa Sarma was the president of ACA. Sarma, who is now the Chief Minister of Assam, had a hand in Saikia’s ascent in cricket governing body. Saikia then worked as ACA secretary from 2019 before being elected as BCCI joint secretary in 2022.
Saikia has gained much popularity due to a profound knowledge of the game and administrative abilities: thus, the BCCI emphasizes experienced coaching. It is envisaged that his experienced diverse background will enhance the overall governance and strategic management of Indian cricket.
