Will run BCCI the way I know, the way I led India, says Sourav Ganguly
MUMBAI: Clad in his captain’s navy blue blazer, Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday promised a “corruption-free, same-forall BCCI”, a philosophy that, he said, guided his tenure as India captain from 2000 to 2005.
Elected unopposed to the top position in the world’s richest cricket Board, the bespectacled 47-year-old also gave enough indications that he would run the show the way he wants and is unlikely to be influenced.
“I will do it the way I know; I will do it the way which I feel is best for the BCCI with no compromise on credibility. Corruption-free and same for all BCCI. That’s the way I led India, and that’s the way I will take this organisation forward,” said the man with more than 18,000 international runs under his belt.
Hard to miss at his first press interaction after taking charge was the India blazer that he was wearing.
“I got it when I was captain of India, but I did not realise that it is so loose. But I decided I will wear it,” he said as scribes chuckled.
He will be at the helm for nine months because the Supreme Court-mandated reforms require a cooling-off period after a six-year run as
an office-bearer. Ganguly has already been Cricket Association of Bengal Secretary and President.
Ganguly couldn’t help but recall the time he took over as team captain.
The sport’s integrity was in tatters that year after the 2000 match-fixing scandal and Ganguly was handed the responsibility of resurrecting it.
Resurrection is once again what is required after three years of administrative limbo, incidentally also caused by corruption - the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. Laying down his immediate priorities, Ganguly said a call to current skipper Virat Kohli is in order.
“Virat Kohli is the most important man in Indian cricket; we will listen to him. I will speak to Virat Kohli tomorrow, we will support him in every possible way, whatever he wants,” he said.