IPL: Deepak Parekh appointed as Gavaskar's special advisor

The cricket board said Parekh's appointment was made at the instance of Gavaskar.

"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), at the instance of Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, Interim President (BCCI-IPL), has appointed Mr. Deepak Parekh as his special advisor, for the 2014 season of the Pepsi Indian Premier League. Mr. Parekh will be a special invitee to the Governing Council meetings of the IPL," BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said in a statement on Friday.

Parekh is the chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).

He is also on the boards of many Indian and International Corporates.

Accepting his appointment, Parekh said, “I am excited to be invited to be a part of the IPL. I look forward to fulfilling this challenging new role on the IPL’s senior leadership team as an advisor to Mr. Gavaskar, as we look to strengthen the Indian Premier League.”

 In his statement, Patel said,"Parekh has been dubbed as the unofficial crisis consultant of the Government. His role as Special Director on the Satyam Board in 2009, to revive the company and restore the confidence in the Indian IT industry, was greatly acknowledged.  Mr. Parekh has always been willing to share his ideas and experience to formulate reform policies across sectors. This, at times, has also meant advising the Government to take hard decisions. It is this quality of being a trouble-shooter that has made him a guiding force and an active member of various high-powered Economic Groups, Government-appointed Advisory Committees and Task Forces."

"The Government and Industry, impressed by Mr. Parekh’s performance and sobriety, have honoured him with several awards. Some of the most important ones are; the Padma Bhushan in 2006, and the 'Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour,' one of the highest distinctions conferred by the French Republic, in 2010. He was the first international recipient of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ Outstanding Achievement Award, in 2010," he said.

 Speaking on the appointment, Gavaskar said: “I am delighted that Deepak has accepted my invitation to come on board as a special advisor and special invitee to the Indian Premier League Governing Council. It is apt that an individual of the calibre of Mr. Parekh will be joining the BCCI-IPL’s leadership group.  With a diverse combination of skills and experience, this appointment will result in a well-rounded senior management team at the IPL – one that will set the direction for a better and bigger league."

"We are pleased to have Mr. Deepak Parekh in our team. His expertise will enable us to deliver a memorable IPL,"  Ranjib Biswal, Chairman, Governing Council, IPL, said.

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