Narendra Modi resigns as GCA president

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resigned as the Gujarat Cricket Association president, setting up, in effect, his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah to take over the post.

Ever since Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party swept the general elections, was sworn in as the prime minister on May 26, he was expected to end his five-year regime as the GCA chief. GCA secretary Rajesh Patel confirmed that Modi had stepped down on Friday: "He has submitted his letter today and it has been decided that the GCA special general meeting will decide the new president on June 13."

Though Patel was reluctant to discuss Modi's replacement, it is believed that Modi is making way for Shah to take charge of GCA. Shah, who has been a GCA vice-president ever since Modi took charge of GCA in September 2009, is expected to be appointed a BCCI vice-president during the BCCI elections in September.