Looking After First-Class Cricketers Biggest Priority: BCCI's New President-Elect Sourav Ganguly

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will finally be controlled by a cricketer. Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, is all set to assume the reigns of the presidency in the Indian cricket board. The move comes at a time when the BCCI has been controlled by the Committee of Administrators and his appointment brings an end to the 33-month tenure of the CoA headed by Vinod Rai. In an interaction with PTI, Ganguly outlined his priorities and said looking after first-class cricketers is the key agenda during his nine-month tenure. 

Ganguly said this was key as the CoA did not do the needful for first-class cricketers. "We will speak to everyone first as we take a decision but my biggest priority will be to look after first class cricketers. I had requested that to the CoA for three years and they didn't listen. That's the first thing I will do, look after the financial health of our first-class cricketers," Ganguly said. 

The former India cricket team skipper admitted that he was intrigued by the way how the BCCI political machinery operated. "I didnt know I would be the President when I came down. You (reporter) asked me and I told you it's Brijesh and when I went up and I came to know it has changed. I have never been in a BCCI election and I never knew it worked like this," Ganguly said.

The left-hander, who has been the Cricket Association of Bengal head ever since 2015, admitted that he is taking over the BCCI at a time when there are immense challenges for the Indian cricket board. "I am taking over at a time when BCCI has not been in greatest of position for the last three years. Its image has got hampered quite a lot. It's a great opportunity for me to do something good," Ganguly said. 

Also Read | Why Sourav Ganguly's Tenure As BCCI President Will Last For Only Nine Months?

However, Ganguly will have to leave the BCCI presidency in July 2020 due to the mandatory cooling off period specified in the Lodha Panel recommendations. According to the modified version, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra modified the initial draft and stated that instead of a three-year cooling off period after every term, the stipulation will kick in after two consecutive terms.

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