Harbhajan Singh Nominated for BCCI Top Post, Sachin Tendulkar Rules Out Role

A few days ago, rumours began to circulate that Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar could be in line to become the next president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, Tendulkar quickly ruled out this possibility, with his management company issuing a clear statement that there was no truth to such claims. Just as that speculation came to rest, a fresh round of rumours has begun, this time involving another former Indian star, Harbhajan Singh. The talk gained momentum after the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) reportedly nominated the 45-year-old former spinner as a candidate for the BCCI’s top post. While the sports website Cricbuzz published details of his potential nomination, there has been no official confirmation from the PCA itself. The BCCI elections can only proceed after gaining approval from state cricket associations, and until then, much remains uncertain.

Harbhajan Singh, fondly known as the “Turbanator,” is one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, having represented the country in 367 matches across formats during his long international career. His contributions, particularly in Test cricket, played a major role in India’s success during the 2000s. Beyond his playing days, Harbhajan has also been active in commentary and politics, making him a well-known figure both on and off the field. The possibility of him stepping into cricket administration at the highest level has sparked widespread debate, especially since the Indian government and its ruling party, the BJP, have in the past shown a willingness to hand important sports administration roles to successful former athletes. This policy previously helped both Sourav Ganguly and Roger Binny, who went on to serve as BCCI presidents.

The rumours about Harbhajan’s candidacy have not been confirmed by him directly. Cricbuzz reported attempts to contact him by phone and message, but he has not responded so far. Because of this silence, fans and experts will have to wait until the nomination period closes to know the truth. According to BCCI election officer A.K. Joti, the deadline for filing nomination papers is September 20–21, with voting set for September 28. Candidates will first need to undergo a scrutiny process on September 22, and they can withdraw their names by September 23 if they choose. Only after this process will the final list of candidates be published.

The Returning Officer has also laid out strict guidelines for candidates. Each nominee must declare whether they have previously held any elected office in the BCCI or any of its member associations. This information has to be submitted in the prescribed Form ‘C’, signed by the candidate, and certified by a notary or commissioner of oaths. This requirement ensures transparency and provides a full record of each candidate’s administrative background before the elections.

In the upcoming elections, five key posts will be open: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, and Treasurer. However, insiders believe that there may not be much competition for most of these positions. It is widely expected that current Secretary Debjyoti Saikia, Treasurer Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, and Joint Secretary Rohan Desai will continue in their roles without opposition. That leaves the post of president as the most high-profile position attracting attention.

Meanwhile, the process of selecting representatives from state cricket associations is already underway. September 12 was the last day for these nominations, and the official list of representatives is expected to be published on September 13. These representatives will attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and cast their votes if needed during the election process. With the dates for scrutiny, withdrawal, and final voting already announced, the picture will become clearer in the coming weeks.

The wave of speculation began with Sachin Tendulkar, but his management company, SRT Sports Management, firmly denied the rumours. In a statement, they said: “Our attention has been drawn to the rumours and reports regarding Sachin Tendulkar being considered and nominated for the post of BCCI President. We would like to clearly state that nothing of the kind has happened. We urge everyone to refrain from creating baseless rumours.” This clarification shut down the Tendulkar talk quickly, but the buzz around Harbhajan Singh continues to grow. Whether the PCA officially confirms his nomination or not, the idea of another ex-cricketer taking charge of the BCCI has already sparked excitement. With India set to host major cricket tournaments in the coming years, the choice of the next BCCI president could be a significant turning point for Indian cricket.