Shashank Manohar was 'forced to resign'; Anurag Thakur emerges as new BCCI boss

New Delhi: The battle for power on the high corridors of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is never a dull one. Post Shashank Manohar's sudden resignation as the president of the board president on Tuesday has allowed secretary Anurag Thakur to emerge as the frontrunner for the top job.

Thakur, 41, is understandbly tight-lipped about such an elevation, but reports claimed that senior BCCI office-bearers believe he is set to take over for the remainder of Manohar's tenure, until September 2017.

A report in ESPNcricinfo quoted a senior official from one of the East Zone associations as saying, "There is no other strong candidate to run the BCCI."

According to the board's constitution, Thakur, as BCCI secretary, has to convene a special general body meeting within two weeks to appoint the next president.

And for him to contest for the position, the BJP MP from Hamirpur has to quit as secretary.

Manohar's resignation as the president of the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) send jitters across the Indian cricketing fraternity.

Speaking to Mid Day from Mahabaleshwar, where he is on a vacation, Manohar said, "I could not work in the present scenario. I don't want to name anyone, but can say I have been forced to resign."

The Nagpur-based lawyer started his second stint as the BCCI president in October last year, soon after the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya.

While many believed Manohar's resignation came since he was keen on independently fighting for the post of ICC chairman, but the 58-year-old made it clear that he wasn't happy at the helm of BCCI affairs.

"I don't want to say anything more except that I wanted to run the organisation (BCCI) on my terms and conditions. I didn't want my image be spoiled. I didn't wish to run the board with others' influence," Manohar said.

In a letter addressed to BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur, Manohar said, "I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect from the post of President of Board of Control for Cricket in India."

Manohar's exit has come at a critical time when the board is already facing wrath of the Supreme Court to implement sweeping reforms suggested by the Lodha panel.