BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur re-elected as HPCA President for fourth time

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur was re-elected as president of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for the fourth time in succession since 2000. 

Thakur was elected after a unanimous decision at the annual general meeting (AGM) of HPCA at Dharamsala on Monday. Despite Thakur expressing desire that a new candidate should take over reign of the HPCA, thanks to his BCCI and political committments, the HPCA has now decided to retain him as head.The elections were conducted under chairmanship of senior vice-president RS Kapoor.

HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma and two members Vishal Jagota and Yudhister Katoch proposed his name while AS Negi, RP Singh and Prem Thakur seconded it. The five-year term of Anurag as the HPCA president will continue till 2020.  The new executive of HPCA will be decided by Anurag.

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Anurag stated in a press conference that HPCA was in shambles during his time as president, thanks to lack of infrastructure, negligible budget and the state team's poor form in national-level tournaments. He added that in the last decade, the HPCA had developed five cricket stadiums and as many academies across the state.

Thakur said efforts were on to start an annual tournament (tentatively named as HPL) in September and October involving best teams from all over the nation.Also a market study will be conducted to decide the format, number of games and other aspects of the tournament, said Thakur.

The Dharamsala stadium may soon get test status post inspection by a BCCI team and it will host a T20 International for the first ever time during the India-South Africa series. Thakur signed off that the BCCI would also form a cricket advisory committee on Monday which would decide on the appointment of head coach.