The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Devajit Saikia as the interim secretary after Jay Shah was promoted to the position of ICC Chairperson. While negotiations to secure a permanent replacement remains underway, Saikia’s longstanding experience in cricket administration and law would be a useful addition to the team.
Devajit Saikia’s cricketing career began in Assam, where he started as an age-group player before moving on to the Ranji Trophy. In 1990-91, he featured four times in first-class cricket. Although his stats — 53 runs, average 8.83 and one stumping — indicate a mediocre playing career, his love of the game paved the way for his future in sports administration.
Devajit’s transition into cricket management started in 2008, when he was elected as secretary of the Gauhati Town Club. Saikia’s organizational savvy and leadership qualities quickly placed him in the center of the Assam Cricket Association (ACA). Saikia became one of the ACA’s vice-presidents, then its secretary, in 2016, when the organization underwent a complete restructuring, demonstrating his passion for cricket in the area.
Saikia, apart from cricket, is also an acknowledged lawyer and is the 18th Advocate General of Assam, appointed in 2021. His compulsion to be both a lawyer and cricket enthusiast has provided him with a distinct perspective on sports administration. Even in lesser formats, he became active in cricket, playing for the Indian Lawyers Cricket Team in international matches, such as the Advocate Cricket World Cups in Australia and Sri Lanka.
Saikia’s latest appointment as BCCI joint secretary, which came following the election of Roger Binny as president in 2022, established him as a respected administrator on the board. His promotion to interim BCCI secretary comes at a time of change when Jay Shah, who was BCCI secretary since October 2019, moves on to take up his international posting at the International Cricket Council (ICC).
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With the BCCI ruling over the most swaying cricketing body in the world, Saikia inherits an enormous responsibility. The post requires a trade-off between domestic progress and ensuring India’s control over cricket on an international scale. Furthermore, helming the BCCI means skillful management of administrative issues such as player deals, scheduling and cricket’s commercialization.
Saikia’s administrative term will likely involve decisions regarding how big events such as the IPL are scheduled and what infrastructure they need for domestic cricket. Managing state associations’ interests while spurring modernization will be a second huge challenge. Given his legal experience and cricketing background, Saikia looks like a natural fit for the role.
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Cricket camaraderie will be waiting to see how Saikia transforms his post-haste job into a road to sustainable contributions to Indian cricket. His temporary tenure would be decisive in establishing the BCCI’s new era post-Jay Shah.
So far, Devajit Saikia is a rare combination of cricketing knowledge and legal experience that makes him an interesting choice for Indian cricket’s leadership. It is unclear whether this short-term position will turn into a full-time one, but the potential is in place for Saikia to have an indelible mark.
