Vinod Rai on Sourav Ganguly as BCCI Chief-elect: "Happy development"

The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai expressed his delight on former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly filing his nomination for the post of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president. Hailing both his cricketing as well as administrative experience, Rai termed it as an “excellent development”. Responding to allegations about the influence of former BCCI chief N Srinivasan and former IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, he claimed ignorance and declined to comment on the issue. He again reiterated that Ganguly becoming the BCCI president would be a “happy development”. 

Read: BCCI Chief-elect Sourav Ganguly's Focus Only On "cricket & Cricketers"

The CoA chief remarked, "If Sourav Ganguly becomes the President then it's very happy development. I mean former player and experienced person like him who handled the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), coming into cricket administration, is an excellent development.” On allegations of external influence in finalizing the former Indian captain’s name, he added, "I don't see, you know I am in the US just now, the only thing I had responded is Ganguly's nomination and his election will be a very happy development. I will personally be very happy because he is not only a former cricketer but a very successful captain and an experienced cricket administrator. That is all I have to say, for other things I have no idea and don't want to talk about it."  

Read: Mamata Banerjee Wishes New BCCI Chief-elect Sourav Ganguly; Read Here

Ganguly to be BCCI President 

The tables turned in the swashbuckling left-handed batsman’s favour after a 5-hour long meeting of key BCCI stakeholders on Sunday. He pipped former cricketer Brijesh Patel, emerging as the unanimous choice for the post. As no other person filed his nomination on Monday, Ganguly is set to be elected as BCCI president unopposed. However, he will be able to remain in this position only until September 2020 due to the recently introduced cooling-off period.  

Read: Sourav Ganguly's History In Indian Cricket Administration

Speaking to the media earlier, Ganguly clarified that his focus would only be on issues related to cricket rather than indulging in politics. He claimed that Indian cricket had suffered in the last few years from an administrative perspective.  

"If I am finally elected, my priorities are clear. It will be only cricket and not politics around it. Indian cricket has suffered a lot from an administrative point of view. Cricketers must not suffer because of this,” he opined.  

(With ANI inputs)

Read: Sourav Ganguly Vows To Prioritize First-class Cricketers' Interests