Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is all set to make a return as the Cricket Association of Bengal president at its annual general meeting on Monday. He will be returning unopposed, but this time, the road ahead looks tougher. The association has faced financial irregularities and credibility issues in recent months, adding extra challenges to his second term.
The full panel led by Sourav Ganguly – including Bablu Kolay (secretary), Madan Mohan Ghosh (joint-secretary), Sanjay Das (treasurer), and Anu Dutta (vice-president) – is also expected to be elected without opposition.
Taking Over from His Brother
The 53-year-old former BCCI president will take over from his elder brother, Snehasish Ganguly, who stepped down due to the six-year limit on executive positions set by the Lodha Committee directives.
CAB has had a rough patch recently, with controversies affecting its image and the Ranji Trophy side showing only moderate performance.
Finance committee member Subrata Saha was recently fined Rs 2 lakh and barred from sub-committee activities for a conflict of interest, and the association itself faced penalties. Earlier in August, joint-secretary Debabrata Das was suspended for six months over financial misconduct allegations.
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“Most organisations have issues to deal with. In the future, if there are issues it will be dealt in an appropriate manner,” Sourav Ganguly said with his usual straightforward style after filing his nomination last Sunday.
Ganguly’s Vision for Bengal Cricket
In his second term as CAB president, Sourav Ganguly has laid out clear priorities. He wants to strengthen Bengal’s first-class cricket, give a boost to the Bengal Pro T20 League, promote women’s cricket, and develop grassroots programs.
“The cricketing system has to move forward. I’ll be trying to talk to our Ranji Trophy cricketers, but there’s no need for too many heads in the team. Players’ skills matter, after all. As an administrator, I’ll help them with the best possible things, and I will do it,” he said.
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He also highlighted the importance of committed administrators.
“The ones selected (as office-bearers) can give time, which is very important for this organisation,” Ganguly added.
A Warm Comeback
Reflecting on his return, Sourav Ganguly expressed gratitude: “I would like to thank everyone for their support. There are important events coming up at the Eden Gardens.”
One of his first big responsibilities will be overseeing the India-South Africa opening Test at Eden Gardens from November 14. This will be the first Test at the iconic venue since the historic pink-ball clash against Bangladesh in 2019 – a match Sourav Ganguly helped bring about during his BCCI presidency.
Eden Gardens is also set to host major fixtures, including a knockout, during the T20 World Cup next year.
“I do not consider it as a challenge. I have eight years’ experience both as CAB and BCCI president. I will try and do my best. We will work together to take CAB and Bengal cricket ahead,” Sourav Ganguly said confidently.
Long-Term Plans in Focus
Sourav Ganguly is also keen on reviving long-term initiatives that were halted due to the pandemic.
“We had a Vision project in place but due to Covid it had to be stopped. We would want it to restart. We also need to focus on junior cricket, club cricket, Bengal Pro T20 league,” Sourav Ganguly said.
He will represent CAB at the BCCI annual general meeting on September 28, returning to cricket administration at an important time, especially with the new Sports Act coming into play. With the BCCI about to elect a new president after Roger Binny steps down due to age, Ganguly’s role at the national level could again be influential.
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