From COVID-19 disruptions to allegations that he has tried to influence selectors to criticism that not enough has been done for women’s cricket during his tenure, Sourav Ganguly has endured a challenging 26 months as BCCI President.
But in an exclusive interview with PTI, the former India captain not just rejected the accusations thrown at him,
but also offered a gentle reminder to his critics—much before becoming the BCCI boss, he was a celebrated India cricketer and played in a whopping 424 international matches, 113 of them Tests.
Steering clear of the drama surrounding the end of Virat Kohli’s captaincy tenure, Ganguly answered questions on other sensitive issues like the still awaited decision on India’s new Test captain, and start of the Women’s IPL.
He also disclosed that the India-West Indies T20Is in Kolkata this month will be a “closed-door” affair and laughed when told about speculation of a possible rift with Board secretary Jay Shah.
Edited excerpts.
There have been allegations that you have been influencing the selection committee and you sit in the meetings to put pressure on the selectors?
I don’t think I need to answer anybody anything [on this] and dignify any of these baseless accusations. I am the president of BCCI and I do the job of what the president of BCCI should be doing. Also just to let you know, I see a picture doing the rounds [of social media] showing me sitting in a selection committee meeting.
I want to make it clear, that picture [where Ganguly can be seen sitting with secretary Jay Shah, skipper Virat Kohli and joint secretary Jayesh George] wasn’t from a selection committee meeting. Jayesh George isn’t a part of selection committee meetings. [I have played] 424 international matches for India. Not a bad idea at times to remind people about it, isn’t it? [laughs].
How has been your working relationship with Jay Shah in the last 26 months in the Indian cricket board?
I share a fantastic relationship with Jay. He is a very dear friend and a trusted colleague. Me, Jay, Arun [Dhumal] and Jayesh, we have all been working together to get the board going in these difficult times especially with COVID-19 in these two years. To make sure that cricket happens. I would say it has been a fantastic two years. We have all done it as a team.
What kind of a new Test captain are you looking at after Kohli’s decision to step down?
Obviously, there are certain parameters of leadership and whoever fits the bill will be the next Indian Test captain. I believe selectors will have a name in mind and they will discuss it with office-bearers—President and Secretary—and it will be announced in due course of time.
Why isn’t BCCI starting the women’s IPL straightaway? Why again a T20 Challenge when a state unit like CAB is having a six team 90-player women’s T20 club meet?
We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen. I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL.
IPL is being held in India hopefully. How big a relief will that be?
Well, as BCCI has always maintained that this is the Indian Premier League and we would ideally want to hold it in India. Yes, we haven’t yet officially announced as we are still tracking the COVID-19 situation in the country. Yes, we would finalise the venues in some time. The plan is very much to hold it in India and we are preparing accordingly.
The state government has allowed 75 per cent spectators at the Eden Gardens for the three T20Is. But isn’t BCCI wary given Motera is having closed-door ODIs?
Let me put this on record. We are not allowing spectators at the Eden Gardens for the three T20 Internationals. There will not be any tickets for general public. The only people allowed are CAB officials and representatives of the various units. In these times, we can’t risk the health of the players by allowing spectators.
