Taking over at a time when BCCI image has got hampered: Sourav Ganguly
Mumbai: The new BCCI president-elect Sourav Ganguly's on Monday said "it's a great opportunity for him to do something good" as he is taking over the reigns of the board at a time when it's image has got a serious beating.
Ganguly pipped Brijesh Patel in a see-saw battle and is expected to be the only presidential nominee.
"You need to wait till 3 pm in the afternoon," Ganguly told PTI during an interaction. "Obviously, it's a great feeling as I have played for the country and captained the country.
"And I am taking over at a time when BCCI has not been in greatest of position for the last three years. Its image has got hampered quite a lot. It's a great opportunity for me to do something good," said the former India captain, who will have to demit office in July, due to compulsory cooling off period.
Ganguly also said his first priority in the short tenure would be to look after "first-class cricketers"
The 47-year-old plans to meet all the stakeholders in Indian cricket and wants to do something that Committee of Administrators (CoA) didn't do for 33 months.
"We will speak to everyone first as we take a decision but my biggest priority will be to look after first class cricketers. I had requested that to the CoA for three years and they didn't listen. That's the first thing I will do, look after the financial health of our first-class cricketers," said Ganguly, who scored more than 18,000 international runs.
Being selected unopposed is a big responsibility, he admitted.
"Whether unopposed or not, there has to be responsibility as it is the biggest organisation in world cricket. Financially, India is a cricketing powerhouse, so it will be a challenge," he said.
Does he regret that the term will be only for nine months? "Yes, that's the rule and we will deal with it."
For someone, who has won many close ODIs for India, Ganguly was emotionally intrigued by how the board room politics worked.
"I didnt know I would be the President when I came down. You (reporter) asked me and I told you it's Brijesh and when I went up and I came to know it has changed. I have never been in a BCCI election and I never knew it worked like this," he said.
He had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday and when asked about whether he will have to campaign for BJP in Bengal, he answered in the negative.
"No, no nothing of that sort. Nobody told me anything," Ganguly said. Jagmohan Dalmiya has pulled off some amazing board room coups and talking about the late BCCI boss, Ganguly got emotional.
"I have never imagined so (that I will be in shoes of late Jagmohan Dalmiya). He has been like a father to me. There has been some great presidents of BCCI, Mr Srinivasan, Anurag, who have done great job," he said.
So will it be different from captaincy? Ganguly answered, "Nothing can beat being an India captain.
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ILNA reports former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad killed in strikes
Tehran: Iran’s ILNA News Agency has reported that former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was killed during the ongoing US and Israeli attacks.
According to ILNA, Ahmadinejad was killed following strikes in Tehran’s Narmak district, including an attack on his residence. The report said he died along with his bodyguards.
News of the deaths of three of Ahmadinejad’s bodyguards was released on February 28, coinciding with the first day of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
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Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013. He was widely known internationally for his hardline rhetoric against Israel and for accelerating Iran’s nuclear programme during his tenure. At home, his disputed re-election in 2009 led to the “Green Movement” protests across the country.
In recent years, Ahmadinejad had positioned himself as a populist critic of the current ruling establishment, though he continued to serve as a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, the body currently involved in helping shape temporary leadership arrangements.
