Raghuram Bhat to take over as KSCA president

BENGALURU: Winds of change blew over the Karnataka State Cricket Association on Wednesday, with a fresh set of administrators set to take guard. Former India Test cricketer Raghuram Bhat will take over as the president while A Shankar, a life member and lawyer by profession, will be the secretary. They take over from Roger Binny and Santosh Menon respectively.
In the past, the KSCA elections have witnessed some bitter battles and sedate contests, but for the first time in over 25 years, an entire committee will take over unopposed.While the annual general body meeting is scheduled for November 20, the electoral officer announced the list of unopposed candidates on Wednesday after withdrawals.
The only person from the previous regime to retain his post is joint secretary Shahvir Tarapore. Unlike the previous committees, the new team is heavy on professionals and light on cricketers. Bhat and Tarapore are the only two to have played competitive cricket at the senior level. The secretary's post too has been traditionally handled by either a former cricketer or club secretary. BK Sampath Kumar, a lawyer and life member, takes over as vice-president from former Karnataka player J Abhiram, while ES Jairam has replaced Vinay Mruthyunjaya as treasurer.
With Karnataka cricket in a transitional phase, the new officials have its task cut out. Also, they will have their hands full with many infrastructure projects being undertaken by the previous committee across the state, which include the completion of facilities at Alur, Hubballi, Belagavi and the ones in the pipeline in districts Hassan, Gadag, Davanagere and Raichur.
Office bearers: President: Raghuram Bhat; Vice-president: BK Sampath Kumar; Secretary: A Shankar; Joint secretary: Shahvir Tarapore; Treasurer: ES Jairam. Managing committee: Institutional members: MS Keshava (Swastic UCC), KV Manjunath Raju (Hammonds CC), MS Vinay (Friends UCC). Mysore: Hari Krishna Kumar (National CC); HS Sadananda (Durgigudi CA); Tumkur: K Shashidhar (Venus CC); Dharwad: Nikhil Bhusad (BDK Sports Foundation); Raichur: Sujit Bohara (City XI CC); Mangalore: Rathan Kumar (Mangalore SC); Life members: 1. Sanjai Poll; NN Yuvaraj.