Kolkata: More than 30 years ago, cricketer Snehashish Ganguly was dropped from the squad for 1989-90 Ranji Trophy finals, only to be replaced by his younger brother Sourav Ganguly. Bengal went on to win the trophy for the second time that year and the rest is history. This time, the former Indian captain has voluntarily stepped aside to make way for his sibling Snehashish to take over as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
Speaking to reporters at the Mohun Bagan ground Tuesday, Sourav Ganguly announced that he will be back at the football club, ATK Mohun Bagan. “I was part of ATK and I will be back as the director. I have played for nearly 9 years for this club,” he said.
Ganguly, who has been associated with the Indian Super League club – owned by Sanjiv Goenka since 2014 – had stepped down from its board last year.
Earlier this month on 15 October, the former Indian skipper had told reporters at Eden Gardens that he would be fighting the CAB presidential elections, due this month.
The last date to file nominations was 22 October but Ganguly didn’t file his papers. He decided to step aside for his brother Snehashish.
“I had said I would contest only if there’s elections, there won’t be any elections so it will be uncontested,” Ganguly said Sunday after he decided to forgo his nomination. “Had I been there, it would have meant two or more people wouldn’t get a post, so I moved aside,” he added.
Last week on 18 October, Ganguly was replaced by former cricketer Roger Binny as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, a post he had served for three years.
Around the same time, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure he was able to contest the election for International Cricket Council (ICC)’s chair. The CM later alleged that ill-treatment was meted out to former Team India skipper and said it was a matter of “global shame” Ganguly couldn’t contest the polls.
Snehashish Ganguly, the current secretary at CAB is slated to become the president uncontested when the annual general meeting takes place on 31 October.
With a focus on Bengal cricket, Snehashish said Sunday that CAB would organise the board’s own super league from 7 November. “We have also begun preparations for the World Cup. The lights in Eden have been technologically upgraded. Repair work is underway,” added Snehashish.
‘No rivalry in Bengal cricket’
“I’ll be around, there is no rivalry here in CAB, everyone is my friend. There are new and experienced persons to run the CAB”, said Sourav Ganguly. When asked what is next for him, Ganguly said he was happy to be free of responsibilities for some time now and will be visiting his daughter in London in November.
He is also expected to be present at Salt Lake Stadium on 29 October for the Kolkata football Derby match played between arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
Also read: ‘I will go on to do bigger things,’ says outgoing BCCI president Sourav Ganguly