Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly’s imminent exit as the BCCI president has turned to be a full-blown political debate with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday jumped into the issue saying that Sourav had been been “excluded in an unfair way”. Mamata also said Sourav should be allowed to contest ICC election.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, took a swipe at the chief minister and said she should appoint Ganguly as brand ambassador of West Bengal in place of actor Shah Rukh Khan. He said the Trinamool Congress leader should not do politics in the matter. Mamata Banerjee said here that Ganguly is popular and “not a political party member” and the Centre need not to take a “political decision”.
Mamata, on the other hand, said, “I request PM to make sure Sourav Ganguly must be allowed to contest ICC election. He’s a popular figure which is why he is being deprived. Request GoI not to take a decision politically, but for cricket, sports…He is not a political party member.”
“On behalf of all countrymen I say that Sourav Ganguly is our pride, he has skillfully managed his sports and administration career. He was BCCI president. He was excluded in an unfair way; the compensation for it will be to send him to ICC,” she said.
The last date to file nominations for the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman elections is 20 October.
Former Indian cricketer Roger Binny is set to take over as the next BCCI chief.
Reacting to Banerjee’s remarks, Suvendu Adhikari said if she wants to extend “Sourav Ganguly’s tenancy then, she should have made him the brand ambassador” of the state. Sourav Ganguly is slated to file his nomination for the president’s post at the Cricket Association of Bengal.
