Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is likely to be the next president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), sources have told HT. The development came after Ganguly and Jagmohan Dalmiya’s son Avishek met chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday.
The post of Bengal cricket chief fell vacant after Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was also the chief of BCCI, died on Sunday from gastrointestinal hemorrhage after a heart procedure.
“A directive has come from the chief minister that Sourav Ganguly should be the CAB president,” a top CAB official told HT. This would be the first time that an office-bearer of the CAB rose to become the chief in so short a time. Sourav Ganguly has been CAB joint-secretary for just over a year.
If indeed Sourav gets to boss over Bengal cricket, it would come as a huge blow to the aspirations of a few top officials of the CAB. One of them is CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey, who has been part of the association for almost 17 years now. A lawyer by profession, Dey was extremely popular among CAB affiliates and apparently enjoyed the support of a few top CAB officials, too. “If a directive like this comes from the CM, you can’t do anything,” an official close to Dey said.
On his part, Sourav Ganguly declined to comment on the issue. After coming out of the meeting with the chief minister, the former India skipper said it was not the proper time to discuss replacement of someone who died just about a day back.
{{/usCountry}}On his part, Sourav Ganguly declined to comment on the issue. After coming out of the meeting with the chief minister, the former India skipper said it was not the proper time to discuss replacement of someone who died just about a day back.
{{/usCountry}}“It’s too early to say anything. Speculation will be there but this is not the time to discuss about replacement. Anyone can run the board,” Sourav said.