In an important development, former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad secured the post of male ICA representative to the BCCI Apex Council by pipping Kirti Azad and Rakesh Dhurve in the first-ever Indian Cricketers Association elections on Sunday (October 13).

As compared to Kirti Azad (381 votes) and Dhurve (223 votes), Gaekwad fetched 471 votes. Earlier, Shanta Rangaswamy was elected unopposed as female ICA representative.

“The outside world sees the glamour of cricket. But there are countless others who have worked hard for the game at the grassroots level. Most ex-cricketers, men and women are struggling to make a living. We need to work with the BCCI to help them,” read Gaekwad’s personal statement to the ICA voters prior to the voting process.

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Kirti Azad's pitch was also on the same line and it stressed over the pension privilege to “every cricketer who has played even one first- class match”. He also called for a significantly enhanced pension for Indian women cricketers.

Meanwhile, Hitesh Majumdar has been appointed as the secretary of the ICA with 646 votes, considerably better than his close rival Ashu Dani (436 votes). V Krishnamurthy has been elected as treasurer while Ashok Malhotra was already named the ICA president after emerging unopposed for the post.

“There are 1,500 cricketers who are in the ICA. It’s the first time that the BCCI has recognised the cricketers’ association. This will have an impact. The ICA’s role is more as a (body) for the welfare of cricketers. This is the first step in the right direction. We will wait and watch how things pan out,” Malhotra was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.