Sourav Ganguly A Deft Politician, Can Head ICC In Future: David Gower

Sourav Ganguly learnt the administrative role under late Jagmohan Dalmiya. He took over as Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president following his death in 2015. Sourav Ganguly made immediate impact after taking over as the president of Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) last year with some key decisions. He pioneered the first-ever Day-Night Test in the country.

Ganguly is the first India cricketer after the Maharaja of Vizianagaram to become the president of BCCI. Former England captain David Gower feels to be a BCCI president you need to be a very deft politician and need to have a reputation. Former India captain and one of the most successful captains has incidentally got it all.

“One thing I have learnt over the years is that if you are going to run BCCI, you need to be many, many things. Having a reputation like he (Ganguly) has is a very good start, but you need to be a very deft politician. “You need to have control of a million different things,” Gower said ahead of “Q20”, a unique chat show for the fans presented by ‘GloFans’.

“And of course, you need to be responsible for a game that is followed by, I mean, should we say a billion people here in India,” Gower added.

Sourav Ganguly has political skills, if he does well at BCCI can head ICC: David Gower

David Gower said to head one of the most powerful cricket boards in the world is a tough job and Sourav Ganguly has the political skills to do it. He also reckoned if he does well with the Indian cricket board can definitely head the global governing council someday. Gower, however, clarified the heading the Indian cricket board is a tougher job.

“We all know about the immense following for cricket in India. So it is indeed a wonderful thing to behold. Sourav has the toughest task imaginable in charge of BCCI, but so far I would say the signs are very good.

“He has listened, given his own opinion and has pulled strings gently,” he said.

“He is a very, very good man and has those political skills. He has the right attitude and can keep things together and will do good job. And if you do a good job as BCCI chief in the future, who knows? “But I would actually say the more important job, to be honest, is running BCCI. Being head of ICC is an honour, there is a lot that can be done by ICC, but actually look at the rankings, look at where the power is heading up. BCCI is definitely the bigger job,” he added.

As Ganguly also serves as the president of CAB, he has to go through a necessary cooling-off period after September 2020. However, in the current Covid-19 hit situation the board administrators are planning to reach out to Supreme Court in a bid to extend their term.