MUMBAI - India's cricket board was set to announce its youngest ever president after it said Saturday that current secretary Anurag Thakur was the sole candidate for the post -- one of the most powerful in world sport.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a statement that Thakur, 41, was the "only" nomination and would be announced as its new chief following a meeting in Mumbai on Sunday. "He will be officially declared elected as the President of the BCCI for the remaining term 2014-17, tomorrow at the Special General Meeting," said the statement issued late Saturday.

Thakur, who is a member of parliament for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, succeeds Shashank Manohar who stepped down earlier this month to become the first independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The top post at the cash-rich BCCI is regarded by many as the most powerful in global cricket. The board benefits from huge TV deals that allow it to effectively run the ICC with its allies, Australia and England.