The Apex Council of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), at its recent meeting, authorized the office-bearers to form the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the men’s 2023 World Cup, an organizational necessity for next year’s mega event.

The formation of the LOC could be completed soon, by this month-end itself if one goes by the comments of an office-bearer, but there is always a talk in the BCCI if one of their own can get to head the ICC at the time of next year’s pinnacle championship. There is a line of thinking in the BCCI that the ICC chairman post should come to India given that it is hosting the tournament.

Sharad Pawar was the head of the ICC when India last hosted the World Cup, in 2011. BCCI has a good equation with current ICC chairman Greg Barclay and is unlikely to do anything to disturb the New Zealander.

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay was apparently very helpful to the BCCI during the conduct of the 2021 T20I World Cup by speedily clearing the files. On one particular occasion, after a request from BCCI secretary Jay Shah, Greg Barclay intervened to clear an important file. BCCI and Greg Barclay enjoy a good equation and the BCCI had actually played a key role in the election of Greg Barclay to the ICC.

Greg Barclay’s first two-year tenure ends this year, there being a little bit of ambiguity whether it will end in December as he was elected in December 2020 or at the ICC annual conference in July, when normally the new chairman takes charge. Constitutionally, the chairman can seek two more tenures of two-years.

The LOC will require several verticals — heads for security, finance, logistics, operations, marketing and media among others — but the most important position is of the tournament director. BCCI will have to choose one from the staff and candidates like acting CEO Hemang Amin and GM Gaurav Saxena – holding senior positions — could be in the fray.

Given that Hemang Amin has IPL in his plate, Gaurav Saxena could be the favourite but a decision has yet not been made. Abey Kuruvilla, who is a GM, could also be a candidate but given his relative inexperience in the BCCI, one is not sure if the former India pacer will be considered.

Dhiraj Malhotra would have been an automatic choice – he held the position for the UAE World Cup last year – but his resignation earlier this year has led to the search for the tournament director.

“The office-bearers have been authorized to form the LOC,” a member of the BCCI said confirming that the matter was one the items in the Apex Council’s agenda.

The 2023 ODI World Cup will be held in October-November 2023. This will be the first time the competition will be held entirely in India. Three previous editions were partially hosted there – 1987, 1996, and 2011.

For the World Cup, the top seven sides plus the hosts (India) from the thirteen competitors in the Super League will qualify. The remaining five teams, along with five Associate sides, will play in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier, from which two teams will go through to the final tournament.