Calcutta, Sept. 24: It's highly unusual for a chief minister to decide on who should be the president of the state's cricket association, but don't rule out any surprises if Mamata Banerjee is the one in the seat of power.

Protocol and convention aren't very high on Mamata's list of priorities.

With Mamata taking the initiative, that too so strongly, former India captain Sourav Ganguly will become the next president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).

Mamata herself made what effectively was an announcement, at Nabanna, this evening.

Sourav, who has a strong vision and is certainly a man with ideas, would occupy the chair held by Jagmohan Dalmiya for over two decades till he passed away.

Again, following what one top source described as a "directive" from Mamata, Dalmiya's only son, Abhishek, will become a joint secretary, replacing Sourav.

Procedure would still have to be followed by the CAB and a special general meeting called to elect the next president and joint secretary, though.

In the first week of October, in all probability.

Mamata has set a precedent which is unlikely to be welcomed by everybody. Nobody will contest her choice as president, but the manner in which she intervened in the process of identifying Dalmiya's successor.

Is the CAB no more autonomous?

Many have begun to ask just that.

Predictably, Mamata claimed that the CAB's members had themselves "decided", requesting her only to "announce" the decision.

In keeping with the line taken by Mamata publicly, Sourav said that he was "thankful" to the CAB's "members".

Politically absolutely correct, but not all would be fully convinced.

Ideally, Mamata should have had a quiet word with Biswarup Dey and Subir Ganguly, letting them know that she wanted the succession to be smooth.

Biswarup and Subir hold key positions in the CAB and simply couldn't have been ignored.

The one big relief is that a politician hasn't been selected for the No. 1 role in the CAB.

On that count, then, one needs to thank Mamata.

Going forward (and the 2016 Assembly elections aren't far off), Mamata is sure to seek more than her pound of flesh from Sourav.

The lady is smart.

In terms of endorsement, a leading national-level politician, with enormous clout, gave his thumbs-up. That made it easier for Sourav.

Sourav will become the second former India captain, after Anil Kumble, to head a state association. Kumble was the Karnataka State Cricket Association's president from 2010-13.

Retired cricketers, who have done national duty, usually don't get the chance to have a go at running an association.

Arshad Ayub, however, heads the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Odisha's Ranjib Biswal is a former Under-19 India captain.

Perhaps, at Sourav's behest, Mamata sent word to joint secretary Subir and treasurer Biswarup to reach Nabanna at 6pm.

Sourav and Abhishek were also called, for the second time in as many days.

All four first met at Dalmiya's Alipore residence and, then, went together to meet Mamata.

Unity, after all, is what Mamata desired. And, why not?

Why were Biswarup and Subir called?

Because Biswarup, in particular, has been a grassroots man and commands a chunk of the votes.

The Biswarup factor, therefore, had to be taken into account. Even by Mamata.

Subir, like Biswarup, is a reasonably old hand in the CAB. At best, both share a "civil" relationship with Sourav, who came on board 14 months ago.

In effect, Biswarup and Subir could have created problems for Sourav if he faced a challenge in his bid to sit in Dalmiya's chair.

Biswarup may have been the challenger.

According to top sources of The Telegraph, the four were with Mamata for "around an hour".

There are two versions on what followed:

(A) That Mamata straightaway made it clear she'd like Sourav to be the next president and Abhishek as a joint secretary;

(B) That Mamata sought the views of Biswarup and Subir on the "way forward".

Whatever, both Biswarup and Subir knew what was coming and had no choice but to say " aapni ja bolben (whatever you say)".

Mamata had no reason to be disappointed.

"Face to face with a strong chief minister, one doesn't have an option.... You simply fall in line," a top source said.

Mamata suggested that Biswarup and Subir switch portfolios, but they preferred to stay in their current positions.

In the past, though, Biswarup has been a joint secretary and Subir the CAB's treasurer.

The "discussions" took place over coffee and fish fry.

Recognising the grassroots work put in by Biswarup, a staunch Dalmiya loyalist (but who has been on good terms with Narayanswami Srinivasan), Mamata reportedly invited him to open an "international-level" academy in Rajarhat.

Some 15 acres would be provided by the state government.

Sports minister Aroop Biswas, too, was present in Mamata's chamber. Till the Sourav development, he'd been a contender for the CAB president's chair.

Sourav, by the way, will represent the CAB in meetings of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

As a result, Sourav would have a vote when the next president of the parent body is elected.

For the record, Sourav has a fine equation with Sharad Pawar, who is keen on making a comeback as the BCCI president.