The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials late on Sunday night, 13 October, informed Sourav Ganguly he was going to be the Board’s next president along with Union Home Minster Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah as secretary.
The former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal president said he’d never expressed aspirations of taking up the role, or even spoken to anyone about it. But by 3pm on Monday, Ganguly had filed his nominations papers for the post.
Former IPL chairman and Uttar Pradesh strongman Rajiv Shukla later confirmed that Ganguly was unopposed, and had been nominated by a majority of the state associations.
And while the final announcement by the electoral officer is set to take place on 23 October, Ganguly was quite vocal about the reforms he’d be focussing on during his 10-month tenure after which he would have to demit office due to the compulsory cooling-off period.
Here’s a look at the five things Dada said were going to be on his radar, after he takes over Indian cricket’s reigns from the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators.
1. Bring ‘Normalcy’ in Indian Cricket
Ganguly said that that the Indian cricket board had been in an ‘emergency-like situation’, and the newly elected officials’ first focus would be to restore normalcy in managing their affairs.
Calling his election as BCCI President “satisfying”, Ganguly said, “For the last three years there has been an emergency-like situation in the BCCI. The eight members who have been nominated will aim to restore normalcy in Indian cricket. There’s a lot of work to do. Indian cricket administration has to be the best in the world, and hopefully it will be normal and smooth-functioning from here on”.
“As a team, we have a lot of things to do. Administration is involved a lot of things. The team has played exceptionally well in the last few months, and hopefully that will continue. But development of cricket depends on the infrastructure and the backroom work which goes on. And it’s our job to make sure that everything is in the right position so the boys can go and excel on the field,” he added.
2. ‘My Biggest Focus: First-Class Cricket’
Ganguly said that looking into the finances of the first-class cricketers would be his top priority after his suggestions fell on deaf ears during CoA’s tenure.
“My biggest focus will be first-class cricket. I’ve been very vocal about looking after first-class cricketers because that’s your base and your strength. I’ve written many times in the last three years that the remunerations need to increase, and increase manifold,” said Ganguly, who scored more than 18,000 international runs.
3. ‘Talks and Discussions With ICC’
Over the past few years, India lost its position of power in the ICC and its revenue has also been curtailed after the ‘Big Three' (India, England and Australia getting bulk of revenue) concept was done away with.
Ganguly said he would also look into the matter, and make sure India get their rightful share. “We haven’t received the money we deserve from the ICC, in the last three or four years. India generates 75 to 80 percent of the revenue. Talks and discussions need to happen, and we need to find a solution to this because this is not leading anywhere,” he said.
4. ‘Conflict of Interest an Issue’
The BCCI President-Elect said 'conflict of Interest' is one of the biggest issues facing Indian cricket since the contentious clause is discouraging the best of the cricketers from getting into the game's administration.
Ganguly himself took heat after allegations of conflict of interest were levelled against him for his dual role as the president of CAB and mentor of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals.
“Conflict of Interest is an issue. And I am not sure whether we will get the services of the best cricketers in the system, because they will have other options to avail [sic].”Sourav Ganguly
"Because if they come into the system and not get to do what is their livelihood, it is very difficult for them to be part of this system and make a difference," said Ganguly.
Ganguly then gave proper examples of how this clause created confusion. "If you look at all the appointments that have happened in various forms – whether it is the NCA or CAC or the appointment of batting, fielding coaches, there has been issue with everything.
"Then come to commentators or IPL. This needs to be sorted as it is another very serious issue in Indian cricket."
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