Sanjay Patel is new BCCI secretary

Sanjay Patel has been appointed the new secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the board's interim chief Jagmohan Dalmiya announced here Thursday. A new treasurer would be named in a "day or two".

The posts had fallen vacant after Sanjay Jagdale quit as secretary and Ajay Shirke as treasurer last Friday in protest against cricket board chief N. Srinivasan refusing to step down after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested for allegedly betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

"There were two vacancies. Today we have filled up only the secretary's position by appointing Sanjay Patel from the Baroda Cricket Association. For Shirke's replacement, we will take a day or two," Dalmiya said.

The working committee and Dalmiya had requested Jagdale and Shirke to reconsider their decision. But Jagdale flatly refused to change his mind.

Shirke, on the other hand, had not communicated with the board and was given time till Tuesday last to get back to the BCCI.

Srinivasan stepped aside at the BCCI working committee meeting Sunday till the pendency of the spot fixing probe for which the board has formed a commission.

The working committee has entrusted Dalmiya the task of running the day-to-day affairs of the board.