Ironic that icon skipper is questioned so often

Sourav Ganguly arrives for the BCCI AGM at a city hotel yesterday. Pic/PTI

His playing days may have made for an engaging roller-coaster ride, but Sourav Ganguly's aspirations as a cricket administrator took a body blow when the BCCI denied him another term at its helm. Mamata Banerjee joined the chorus of protesting voices here on Monday, complete with a "request" to the prime minister to "allow" Ganguly to contest the ICC elections.

While the chief minister's appeal to Narendra Modi may seem out of context considering the cricket board's status as an independent sports body, it is common knowledge that the ruling party at the Centre has almost always called the shots at BCCI elections. Ganguly will be well aware of this, and so should those that are batting for him. At Tuesday's AGM in Mumbai, the panel with Roger Binny as president was duly installed. Perhaps more significantly, indications are that the BCCI will support New Zealand's Greg Barclay for another term as ICC president.

BJP factor here

Most believe, and with good reason, that Ganguly's falling out of favour with the Board has a lot to do with BJP's growing impatience after failing to have him join them.

While Ganguly has remained ‘apolitical', it hasn't escaped many that the former India skipper sought the blessings of Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee to ease into the CAB president's chair in 2015 and then piggy-back the BJP to the BCCI's hot seat in 2019. The moves had him stepping on the toes of some powerful people in the cricket fraternity even as many among his legion of fans felt let down.

In their eyes, the gallant skipper who, among other achievements, had stopped the Aussie juggernaut in 2001 and taught a bunch of young teammates to believe and look the opponent in the eye, had stepped out of character and exposed a fear of losing. Worse, he had chosen opportunism to address it.

It is an irony that the leadership of a man hailed as one of the best skippers the country has produced should be questioned on several occasions. There was Team India coach Greg Chappell and the Kolkata Knight Riders management, and now by the likes of former BCCI chief N Srinivasan.

Also Read: Sourav Ganguly: Can't play forever

CAB's top post

Post BCCI rejection, Ganguly has thrown his hat in the ring for the CAB president's post, probably a tricky comeback trail. But then, it may actually turn out be a cakewalk if the chief minister butts in again.