The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia as the head of its newly formed Governance Review Committee. The decision was taken during the ICC's annual meeting, where the council also approved a USD 12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies.
Who is on the Governance Review Committee?
According to India Today, apart from Saikia, the other members of the committee are Dr Mohammed Moosajee of Cricket South Africa and Dr Ros Rivaz, the newly-appointed Independent Director of the ICC. The committee is expected to review and recommend improvements to the governance structures within international cricket.
Saikia's Additional Role in Franchise Leagues Committee
Saikia has also been named as a member of another freshly constituted committee — the Franchise Leagues Committee. This committee will be headed by former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal, as reported by Deccan Herald. Other members of the Franchise Leagues Committee include Dr Rudie van Vuuren (Cricket Namibia), Richard Gould (England and Wales Cricket Board), and Todd Greenberg (Cricket Australia).
ICC Also Approves Loan for West Indies Cricket
Alongside the committee appointments, the ICC approved a significant financial measure. The council sanctioned a USD 12.82 million loan to Cricket West Indies, as confirmed by Rediff Cricket. This loan is intended to support the development and operations of cricket in the West Indies region.
Our Take: A Step Toward Stronger Cricket Governance
In our view, this appointment signals the ICC's intent to bring more structure and accountability to how cricket is administered globally. Having a senior BCCI official like Devajit Saikia lead the Governance Review Committee is a clear sign that the world's richest cricket board will play a central role in shaping future policies. The formation of the Franchise Leagues Committee also reflects the growing influence of T20 leagues worldwide. These moves, combined with the financial support for West Indies, suggest the ICC is trying to balance governance reform with financial stability for member boards. It remains to be seen what specific changes the committee will recommend, but the direction is clear — the ICC is serious about cleaning up and modernizing cricket's administrative framework.
