Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was officially elected as the BCCI president on Wednesday. “I’m very happy, cricketers are a part of the system. They have always been a part but the numbers were not as much. Conflict is an issue which something really needs to be looked at. All other appointments that have happened, there has been an issue with everything. Commentators in the IPL, that is another issue which needs to be sorted,” he had said.
It’s official – @SGanguly99 formally elected as the President of BCCI pic.twitter.com/Ln1VkCTyIW
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 23, 2019
“My first priority will be to look after first-class cricketers. I had requested to the CoA and they have not listened. Ranji Trophy cricket will be the focus. To take care of cricketers’ financial interest,” the former India skipper had said.
Sourav Ganguly, one of the most successful captains of the Indian cricket team, will become the 39th chairman of the BCCI at the annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday. With this, the 33-month term of the Committee of Administrators (COA) appointed by the Supreme Court will also end. Ganguly’s nomination for the post of BCCI President is unanimous. Apart from them, other members of the board will also take care of their respective responsibilities. These include Jai Shah (Gujarat) secretary, son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mahima Verma vice-president of Uttarakhand, former president of BCCI and younger brother of Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, Arun Dhumal (Himachal Pradesh) treasurer and Jayesh George (Kerala) joint secretary.
COA’s 33-month term will also end
COA chief Vinod Rai said that the entire process would be followed during the AGM. He said, “First the accounts of the last three years will be approved. Election officials will then announce the results of the election as all have been elected unopposed. We will talk to Sourav and set the schedule. ‘
President will remain for ten months
Ganguly will be the Board President for only about ten months and his term will end in July next year. According to the new rules, any member can hold a post of cricket board for only six consecutive years. Ganguly is the President of Bengal Cricket Association for five years and two months hence his tenure in BCCI will be only ten months.
First president to play more than 400 international matches
Ganguly will be the first BCCI President to have more than 400 international matches experience. He played 424 matches. Before him, the Maharaja of Vizianagaram (Vijay Anand Ganapathi Raju), who played three Tests from 1954 to 1956, was the full-time president. Although Sunil Gavaskar, who played 233 international matches and Shivlal Yadav, who played 34 matches, also headed the board, both were interim presidents for some time in 2014.
