MUMBAI (India): Attired in a Team India blazer, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly started his new innings as the national cricket body’s head here on Wednesday.
“I got the blazer when I was India captain. I decided to would wear it today,” said Ganguly.
Dada, as he is affectionately called by his fellow team-mates, friends and fans, was credited with giving the Team India a positive attitude.
The 47-year-old, who is also the Cricket Association of Bengal president, will lead a new BCCI team which took over from the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators.
I won’t take revenge against anyone
In his first press conference as BCCI president, Ganguly didn’t dodge any question. Rather he made it clear that he is not here to take revenge against anyone.
Ganguly, who made his India debut in 1992 during the ODI series in Australia, said his priority was to overhaul the domestic cricket and players are treated with utmost respect.
Going by the new BCCI constitution, the Bengal Tiger is likely to serve just more than nine months as BCCI president before going for a compulsory “cooling-off” period as mandated by the SC orders after serving six years in office.
Excerpts.
How would you describe your first day in office?
SG: It’s the first day I sat on my chair. It was the same thing when I was the captain and got the blazer. There were some great names who led the country before me and it’s the same thing here. I’ve a role to play which I’ll do it with the best of my ability.
BCCI accounts not passed. Is there any reason?
SG: It was a general body meeting and not the Annual General Meeting. The accounts need to be passed at the AGM. We’ll call AGM in three weeks’ time and pass it. We also need to go through it. We don’t have an idea on the expenses incurred in the last three years.
Is this a big challenge for you?
SG: It’s an honour that I’ve been asked to take this role. It’s a new start for the BCCI. Fortunately, or unfortunately, when I became captain it was a similar sort of a situation (after match-fixing saga). I captained India for six years. Things needed to be sorted out. The reforms are important while a chunk of money to be paid to the state associations. I find myself in a position where I can make a change, and it’s a challenge. I’ll do it the way I know, in the way I feel is best for BCCI, with no compromise on credibility and corruption free. That’s the way I led India, and that’s the way I will take BCCI forward.
What’s your take on Virat Kohli’s idea of having five Test venues?
He (Kohli) is the most important man in Indian cricket. We’ll have to sit with him and see how he wants to take it forward. We will listen to him because I’ve been a captain myself and understand from that position. We’ll support him in every possible way as he wants to make Team India the best.
Your comment on the domestic cricket which has suffered in the last few years.
SG: Domestic cricket structures and tournaments are there, but the matches have been doubled in the last three years. During my time, there were about 1000 games. Now there are 2000 games between states and the affiliates. We’ve to look at it. We have to make sure the best tournament is competitive because that’s where you get the Kohlis and MS Dhonis, Ajinkya Rahanes and Rohit Sharmas.
Has the Apex Council replaced the working committee? Have the powers of secretary and joint-secretary been curtailed?
SG: No, that’s not correct, the apex council can give any powers to the office-bearers. It’s not the right interpretation of the (Supreme Court) order. If you look at the Apex Council powers, it will designate powers to the president, secretary and the treasurer. All the office-bearers are very important. I wouldn’t use the word control, I don’t like that word. It’s about proper functioning of the BCCI. We’ve to be in the thick of things because at the end of the day the responsibility has been put on us to get things going in the right direction.
Did Team India become more powerful during COA regime?
SG: I don’t know what transpired between COA, Virat (Kohli) and Ravi (Shastri). A new body and new office-bearers have taken over and there will be a proper discussion and everything will be mutually discussed and taken forward. We’re here to make their life easier and not make difficult for players and team staff. Everything will be on the basis of performance.
What about Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s future?
SG: I’ve taken over only today and hopefully we will have a word with one of the greats if Indian cricket.
What are your views on spilt captaincy?
SG: This is the work of selectors, and when the issue will come up we will decide. India is winning and there is no need of it. India is the best team in the world.
What are your views on relations between captain and BCCI president?
SG: When I was the captain and Jagmohan Dalmiya was the president, I don’t remember a day when he said no to anything. Likewise, when Srinivasan was the president and Dhoni was the captain, their relations were good. Virat is the captain now and his relation with me will be the same. Whatever he will require for the betterment of Indian cricket, he will get. He is a very big player and has taken Indian cricket to a different level. We are with him and will remain so.
Will you gag TV commentators?
SG: When I was a commentator, nobody called me up and said ‘you can’t say this and you can’t say that’. So, I don’t have that experience, but I have heard about it. Such sort of issues and diktats were there but I’ve never been asked to do that during my tenure as a commentator. I have not been commentating a lot because of the time it takes. So, from that point of view, I don’t see it as an issue.
How do you see the compliance issue of TNCA, Haryana and Maharashtra?
SG: Yes, there are issues with their compliant. We’ll try and get them compliant because they need to be back into the system. We will try and do everything to get them back into the system.
Your comments on conflict of interest issue.
SG: It has to change. It is already been taken up by the COA in the last Status Report. They have already put it in the Supreme Court and let’s see how far it gets modified.
Do you support to introduce cricket in Olympics?
SG: That’s a decision which needs to be taken collectively. It’s also got to do with the IOA, who are involved in Olympics. I can’t answer that at the moment.
Will Bangladesh play in India given the pay dispute?
SG: I spoke to the Bangladesh Prime Minister two days back. She has agreed to visit India for the Test match on November 22. When PM has given consent, I don’t see the players not turning up. At the end of the day, it’s their decision and internal matter.
