Kolkata, 17th October 2022: Mamata Banerjee said, “I appeal to the Prime Minister that Ganguly should be allowed to contest the ICC elections, it should be ensured. Ganguly is a popular figure, so he is being denied.’’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has advocated for Sourav Ganguly to contest for the post of ICC President. “I appeal to the Prime Minister to ensure that Ganguly is allowed to contest the ICC elections,” Banerjee said. Mamata Banerjee alleged that Ganguly is a popular figure, so he is being denied. She said, ‘’I appeal to the Government of India not to take a decision politically, keep cricket and sports in mind. He is not a member of a political party.’’

Sourav Ganguly is the outgoing chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He is again set to return to the post of the President of his state unit Bengal Cricket Association (CAB). The former India captain on Saturday said that he will contest the CAB elections. Ganguly had to step down from the post of BCCI President as no one on the board has held this post for more than three years so far. He was the CAB President for four years between 2015 and 2019 before becoming the BCCI President.

At present, if BCCI’s stand is seen, then the chances of Ganguly becoming the BCCI candidate for the post of ICC President are slim. If BCCI officials have a change of heart, Ganguly as CAB president will continue to be relevant in the administrative corridors of the board as their representative in various board meetings.

Sourav Ganguly could not do what Mithun Chakraborty did for BJP. People who refuse to join BJP are jailed, but BJP did not do the same to Ganguly as he is a national symbol.