New Delhi: The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she will urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that Sourav Ganguly is allowed to contest elections for International Cricket Council (ICC) chief. Banerjee also said that she is shocked that the former Indian skipper was deprived of second term as BCCI president.
“I request the 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,” news agency ANI quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari reacted to Mamata Banerjee’s statement saying that if she wanted to extend Sourav Ganguly's tenancy then she should've made him brand ambassador of West Bengal.
“Remove Shah Rukh Khan & make Sourav Ganguly the brand ambassador of West Bengal. If Mamata Banerjee wanted to extend Sourav Ganguly's tenancy then she should've made him brand ambassador of WB. Don't do politics in sports. PM Modi stays out of these things,” ANI quoted Adhikari as saying.
Meanwhile, the outgoing BCCI President Sourav Ganguly is going to contest for president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The former India captain was offered the post of IPL Chairman which he declined.
It will be Ganguly's second term as CAB president if elected. The former India captain was the president from 2015 to 2019 before moving to the BCCI. The CAB polls are scheduled to be held on October 31.
The BCCI is going to hold its AGM in Mumbai on October 18. Former all-rounder Roger Binny, who was part of 1983 World Cup-winning team will be elected as president and Jay Shah will be reelected as the secretary unopposed. The BCCI election next Tuesday is expected to be a formality since none of the office-bearers' posts had more than one nomination.
(With Inputs from agencies)