Former India players Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem have taken their first steps into cricket administration, having been elected secretary and joint secretary of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA). The results marked a resounding victory for both. Tiwary defeated SB Singh 438-194, while Nadeem comfortably overcame Raj Kumar Sharma with a 409-199 margin. Tiwary, now 35, hung up his boots in early 2024 after nearly two decades of service for Jharkhand, where he led the side in 88 matches and became a fan-favourite during his IPL stints with teams such as Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Nadeem, who also called time on his career last year, was a mainstay in domestic cricket for over 20 years, and played two Tests for India. He earned over 500 first-class wickets and represented franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi in the IPL. “There was a group here who approached me and Saurabh asking us to stand for the elections. They wanted us to guide Jharkhand cricket,” Nadeem told The Indian Express after the results were declared. “Initially, I was in two minds but after giving it a thought we decided to contest the elections. This state has made us cricketers and we have played here for the last 25 years. Now it has given us a chance to be cricket administrators. We feel we can contribute,” he added. Also READ: 'We decided not to talk about it': Pant's candid take after LSG miss playoffs ‘Development of cricket is key,’ says Nadeem Looking ahead, both Tiwary and Nadeem are focused on improving the state’s cricketing structure. Nadeem pointed out that having recently retired gives them a better understanding of what the game demands in its current form. “Being active cricketers till recently ensures we are in touch with the game. Development of cricket is key. We have a good talent pool and they can do well. We will try to implement our plans,” he said. Tiwary, who is known for his powerful batting and long-haired Dhoni-esque look during his early years, was once tipped for a long run with Team India after his ODI debut in 2010. While that dream didn’t pan out as expected, his deep ties with Jharkhand cricket have only grown stronger. Now, as office-bearers of JSCA, the duo hopes to bring their on-field experience into the boardroom and drive positive change for the next generation of cricketers.