Calcutta, Sept. 24 (PTI): Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was appointed on Thursday as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, ending the suspense on who will take over the state cricket body following the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made the announcement of Ganguly in the presence of senior CAB officials and state government ministers at the state Secretariat.
Dalmiya's son Abhishek was inducted as one of the two joint secretaries replacing the incumbent, Sourav Ganguly. Subir Ganguly will continue as the other joint secretary while Biswarup Dey will continue as treasurer.
While the chief minister officially made it clear that it was a decision taken by the CAB officials and she was there to support their bid to take the game of cricket in the state forward, it was apparent that it took government interference to appoint Ganguly.
”We are going through a big crisis after his [Dalmiya's] unfortunate death. Someone has to head CAB. Dalmiya loved cricket so much. So it's important that the people close to him [should run the show]... cricket family is most important. My only request to all of you that be together, remain united and take the Jaguda's legacy forward,” Mamata said with interim sports minister Arup Biswas by her side.
While some CAB officials had to depend on the interference of the ruling party, the chief minister clarified that it was a decision taken by the officials themselves.
”It's not fair for me to interfere. I just want them to do well, I'm there with them like a deputy or colleague. It's what they have decided together,” Mamata said.
”I should not be announcing this but since all of them are requesting I feel that as someone [Sourav Ganguly] who had led India so many years should now take charge of the role and they should form the set up with Abhishek, Subir, Biswarup and all other senior members,” she said.
Ganguly, 43, said, “Anything in life is a new challenge. I am particularly happy that Abhishek is coming into administration, as it is a very emotional time for him. Myself, Biswarup, Subir would all work together and there won't be any problems. We have 117 [actually 121] members and we will decide the way forward.”
While Abhishek, with no experience in sports administrative, was the biggest gainer, the two big losers were treasurer Dey and senior joint secretary Subir, who were harboring aspirations of going into an election, the option of which ended Thursday after Mamata’s intervention.
