Mumbai, October 4

Shashank Manohar was unanimously elected president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today, succeeding veteran Jagmohan Dalmiya who died last month.

The Nagpur-based lawyer, 58, was anointed to arguably the most powerful job in world cricket at a special general body meeting of the BCCI at its headquarters in Mumbai. “Mr Shashank Manohar elected,” the BCCI said on its official twitter account @BCCI.

Manohar was the lone candidate in the election. Manohar, who will remain at the helm for two years, had earlier served as BCCI president from 2008 to 2011. Dalmiya’s death on September 20 had triggered a bitter succession battle within the faction-ridden BCCI, with former chief Sharad Pawar being a key contender for the post.

But Pawar, a veteran politician, backed out of the race after reportedly being opposed by the nation’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, paving the way for Manohar to emerge as a consensus candidate. Manohar, who has a squeaky-clean image and a no-nonsense approach to cricket administration, will be charged with restoring the BCCI’s image and credibility after a string of corruption scandals over the past few years.

The cash-rich BCCI enjoys a pre-eminent position in world cricket and effectively runs the International Cricket Council with its allies, Australia and England.