Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly formally took charge as the new president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai on Wednesday, ending a 33-month tenure of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators’ (CoA).
Ganguly is the 2nd Indian cricketer after Maharaja of Vizianagaram to become the BCCI president.
The former cricketer had filed his nomination after an eleventh-hour drama earlier this month. He was elected unopposed. Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, Jay Shah was chosen unanimously as the BCCI secretary at the same annual meeting. Brijesh Patel will become the chairman of Indian Premier League (IPL).
“My first priority will be to look after first class cricketers. The focus will be on Ranji Trophy and to take care of cricketers’ financial interests. I had requested this to the CoA and they have not listened,” said Ganguly after his name was finalized.
The former captain is expected to serve only 9 months as the BCCI president as the “cooling off period” provision in the new BCCI constitution that makes makes it mandatory for board officials to step down after 6 years in office. Ganguly has already been an administrator for Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
