Venkatesh Prasad To Assume Role As KSCA President

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad is poised to take over as the next president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after the nominations for various posts were scrutinized. Prasad had earlier served as vice-president under Anil Kumble’s administration from 2010 to 2013.

Prasad, who leads Team Game Changers, had filed his nomination for the president’s post alongside K.N. Shanth Kumar of Team Brijesh and former women’s cricketer Kalpana Venkatachar. Shanth Kumar’s nomination was rejected, and Venkatachar withdrew, leaving Prasad as the only valid candidate.

Prasad’s panel also suffered a setback when former treasurer Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who was expected to contest for the secretary’s role, failed the scrutiny process on technical grounds.

“This decision has been a personal setback, but it has not shaken my commitment or my resolve. In fact, it has only strengthened my belief in the change we are all striving for. My full strength, energy, and unwavering support now stand firmly behind Team Game Changers, ably led by our legendary cricketer Venkatesh Prasad,” Mruthyunjaya said in a statement.

Kalpana Venkatachar had also submitted nominations for several other positions, including vice-president, treasurer, and a spot on the managing committee as a life member. From Team Game Changers, Sujith Somasundar, Santosh Menon, and B.N. Madhukar were among the vice-president nominees whose nominations were approved.

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Somasundar, who recently resigned as Head of Cricket Education at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, was already designated as the panel’s vice-president candidate. This could lead other Game Changers members who cleared scrutiny to withdraw, leaving Somasundar to contest the vice-president post against Team Brijesh’s D Vinod Sivappa.

The scrutiny process also confirmed valid nominations for all other positions.

President: Venkatesh Prasad, Kalpana Venkatachar (withdrawn)

Vice-president: D. Vinod Sivappa, Santosh Menon, Sujith Somasundar, Kalpana Venkatachar, B.N. Madhukar

Secretary: E.S. Jairam, Sujith Somasundar, Santosh Menon

Joint secretary: B.K. Ravi, A.V. Shashidhara, Avinash Vaidya

Treasurer: B.N. Madhukar, M.S. Vinay, B.N. Subramanya, A.V. Shashidhara, Kalpana Venkatachar

Managing committee (life members): Kalpana Venkatachar, Sailesh N. Poll, V.M. Manjunath, Sanjai Ashok Anand Poll, Vagesh Prasad B.S., K.S. Kedarnath, Avinash Vaidya

The withdrawal period ends on November 26, after which the final list of eligible candidates will be released. According to a High Court directive, the KSCA elections are set for December 7, overseen by retired High Court judge Justice Subash B. Adi, with Dr. B. Basavaraaju, I.A.S. (Retd.) acting as the Electoral Officer.