Harbhajan Singh has entered the spotlight as a serious candidate for the presidency of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), having reportedly secured backing from the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA).
The BCCI’s election schedule is tight: nominations open on September 20–21, with scrutiny of those nominations on September 22. The deadline for withdrawals is September 23, by which time the final list of contestants will be made public. Voting and counting are set to take place on September 28.
Harbhajan Singh, who represented India in 367 international matches and claimed more than 700 wickets across formats, is no stranger to public affairs. He was appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 2022 by the Aam Aadmi Party—an indicator of his growing visibility beyond cricket.
While official confirmation of PCA’s nomination is still awaited, Harbhajan’s candidacy follows speculation about Sachin Tendulkar also being considered. Tendulkar’s camp, however, has reportedly denied interest.
The PCA endorsement is significant: only candidates supported by a state association are eligible to contest for the top post. It gives Harbhajan not just legitimacy but momentum.
Meanwhile, other key positions in BCCI —vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer—are likely to see little change. Incumbents such as Devajit Saikia, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, and Rohan Dessai are expected to retain their posts.
