ZCZC
BSP-08
CRICKET-IND-GANGULY-BCCI
Ex-India skipper Ganguly poised to become cricket board chief
NEW DELHI, Oct 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is
poised to take over as the president of the country’s cricket board as
nominations close Monday for elections to the game’s wealthiest and most
powerful body.
Ganguly, 47, emerged as the only candidate for the top post after a meeting
in Mumbai on Sunday, a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source
told AFP.
One of the most successful national captains in the sport, Ganguly retired
from Test cricket in 2008 having accumulated 7,212 runs.
Last month he was re-elected president of the Cricket Association of
Bengal.
Brijesh Patel, a former India batsman and experienced administrator, is
likely to become chairman of the Indian Premier League, the board’s lucrative
Twenty20 competition.
Jay Shah, son of India’s home minister Amit Shah, is tipped for the
secretary’s post.
Monday is the last day for filing nominations before BCCI elections are
held on October 23.
Cricket’s massive popularity in India has helped the BCCI become the
wealthiest of all of the sport’s national boards, racking in large sums of
money from sponsorship and TV deals.
But it has also been embroiled in legal battles and a series of scandals,
including accusations of corruption and match-fixing in the IPL.
Ganguly told the Press Trust of India news agency Monday that his priority
as president would be to polish BCCI’s image.
“I am taking over at a time when BCCI has not been in greatest of position
for the last three years. Its image has got hampered quite a lot. It’s a
great opportunity for me to do something good,” he said.
“Financially, India is a cricketing powerhouse, so it will be a challenge,”
Ganguly added.
India, the world’s number one-ranked Test team, is currently playing a home
Test series against South Africa.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1334 hrs