Kolkata: “Unceremonious” exit of Sourav Ganguly from the post of president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) evoked sharp criticism from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. She said that she was shocked to heard Ganguly’s exit.
She said that injustice had been meted out to him and Jai Shah, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, would continue as the board secretary. Banerjee told reporters at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata that she had no objection to that, but Ganguly, too, should have been given an opportunity to continue as BCCI chief. She was leaving for north Bengal.
She also said that Ganguly should be given an opportunity to contest for the chairmanship of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“Previously, we saw Jagmohan Dalmia in that chair. There is no question of politics here. Ganguly is not a politician. He can move along with everybody,” she said.
She further said that for development of Indian cricket he should be given a chance to represent India in the ICC and that she would speak to the Prime Minister about it.
Nevertheless, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Samik Bhattacha said that it was the chief minister and the Trinamool Congress who were politicising the issue and that no one ever before continued as the BCCI president for two consecutive terms.
Ganguly himself has announced that he will contest for the post of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Its election will be held on October 31.
