Kolkata: The departure of former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly from the post of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President has taken a political turn.
Today, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the former skipper was being denied a second term as BCCI president. She appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to let the former Team India captain contest the International Cricket Council’s election.
Soon after her allegation, Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Suvendu Adhikari attacked her for doing politics on the issue.
Mamata Banerjee told newsmen on Monday, “My humble request to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) that Saurav (Ganguly) must be allowed to contest the ICC election. Why is he being deprived? What is his fault?”
She continued, “Everybody knows him, across the country and the world. We are proud of him, he is a Bengali brother, Dada. And the world knows him. But he is proud for country and the world. Whoever plays cricket, everybody knows him. Everyone knows him, he works with everyone. He is popular, that is why he is being deprived. I am really shocked.”
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)’s chairperson added, “Do not take it politically and vindictively. Take a decision. He is not a political person. Take decisions for cricket and sports.”
The left-hand batsman and one of the finest cricketers of Indian cricket history Ganguly was made BCCI president in 2019. His term has just ended. The former captain did not fight for a second term. While the BCCI secretary Jay Shah and few others like Rajeev Shukla will continue, Ganguly will be replaced by Roger Binny, a member of 1983 World Cup Champion team.
Leader of Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari attacked Mamata Banerjee, “She should first remove Shahrukh Khan and make Saurav Ganguly the Brand Ambassador of West Bengal. Why has she realized his (Saurav Ganguly’s) greatness so late? She should not do politics over this.”
The Bollywood superstar was made Bengal’s Brand Ambassador in 2012, a year after TMC came to power in the state.
Adhikari claimed, “She should know that the prime minister does not intervene in cricket administration.”
While Adhir Ranjan reacted, why did Mamata Banerjee take so much time to react to it?
Congress MP said, “May be she realized that the issue is important for the people of Bengal. We all want Sourav to be appointed BCCI president.”
