Sourav Ganguly at the Eden Gardens. (Photo: Twitter)
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 Sri Lanka captain and MCC chief Kumar Sangakkara believes Ganguly is the perfect candidate to take up the role of ICC president as he can bring about the change that is required.
Sourav Ganguly (Credits – Twitter)
Sangakkara is of the opinion that Ganguly has an astute cricketing brain and has the best interest of the game. He also added that Ganguly has maintained good relationship with players and board members all around the world which further makes him suitable for the post.
“I think Sourav definitely can make that change. Quite a big fan of Dada not just because of his stature as a cricketer but I think he has a very astute cricket brain. He has the best interests of the game at heart and that should not change just because you are the BCCI president or the ECB or SLC or any other cricket board when you are at the ICC.
“Your mindset should be truly international and not just constrained by partisanship in terms of where I come from — am I Indian, Sri Lankan or Australia or English but really understand ‘yes I am a cricketer and what I am doing is what is best for all cricketing countries,” Kumar Sangakkara told India Today.
“Most importantly, the foundation of this game is children, fans, and spectators around the world. I think Sourav can do that very, very well. I have seen his work even before he took over as the BCCI president, even before administration and coaching, and how he has built relationships with players around the world, his standing in the MCC cricket committee. I have no doubt that Sourav will be a very, very suitable candidate to do just that.”
Kumar Sangakkara (Credits: PCB)
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.
It is, however, a noted development that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves is the front-runner to take up the position of next ICC president. He is likely step down as ECB chairman on August 31 to head the governing council.
