Kolkata: Firefighting a range of issues here, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has finally put her foot down on Sourav Ganguly's ouster as BCCI chief, questioning Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's retention as BCCI Secretary even as she requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to nominate Sourav Ganguly for the ICC chief position.
"What is his fault? If Amit Shah's son can be in the board, then why not Sourav," Banerjee said at the Kolkata airport before leaving for a trip to north Bengal. Saying that Ganguly is the "pride of Bengal", and that he has been given a raw deal, the West Bengal CM minced no words and commended the Kolkata player for his good work while in the administration. "I am not criticising anybody, one who will work well would be acknowledged, one who does poorly will not be praised."
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Banerjee said that following his ouster from the Board, the former captain can only be compensated through ICC nomination. "Sourav has shown efficiency both on and off the ground. He has proved himself as an able administrator. The way he has been axed from the BCCI, the only compensation is ICC nomination. He has been deprived," she asserted.
The Bengal chief minister also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention and asked him to nominate Ganguly for the ICC chief. "Shocked that Sourav Ganguly was deprived of second term as BCCI president. I will urge PM Modi to ensure Sourav Ganguly is allowed to contest elections for ICC chief," she said.
Mamata cited instances of how Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sharad Pawar made it to the ICC from BCCI and that the same process should be followed in case of Ganguly. Ganguly will make way for Roger Binny as BCCI chief, one of India 1983 World Cup winning hero, on October 18 post the BCCI AGM (Annual General Meeting) while Jay Shah will continue to hold on to his position as the board's secretary.
