Sourav Ganguly’s tenure as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which he first assumed in 2019, appears to be coming to an end. The front-runner to fill Ganguly’s position is reportedly Roger Binny, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team. Ravi Shastri, a former India head coach, is happy to see Binny occupying the top position on the board even if an official announcement has not yet been made.
“Roger’s name has come up and I am delighted. He was my colleague in the World Cup. There is continuity here because he was the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association and now, he moves on to become the president of the BCCI. I am extremely happy because it’s a World Cup winner who is the president for the first time in the history of the BCCI,” Shastri said Although Ganguly may assume another position on the board, Binny has already submitted his bid for BCCI president. According to rumours, Ganguly intended to stay on as the board’s chairman but didn’t have the support he needed from the other members. Shastri reacted to this situation by stating that “nothing in life is permanent.”
“As I read in the media, I don’t think anyone had a second term as president. So, the way things stand, it gives an opportunity for another cricketer. Nothing is permanent in life and you can only do certain things for so long and then you have to move on,” Shastri said. “Something I am doing today does not mean I will do the same thing for three years from now. There will be new people coming in, new people taking over. In a way, it’s healthy.” Shastri believes that Binny, who previously served as the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, possesses the qualifications needed to assume the position of BCCI president. “His credentials are unquestionable, you look at his integrity, his character… and like I mentioned, he is a World Cup winner. He’s got all the boxes ticked to become the president of the BCCI,” Shastri said.
“Being a cricketer himself, he will ensure that the interest of cricketers is paramount, not the A tier that will sustain itself, but the grassroot level. Primarily, domestic cricket. I think it has been given a lot of attention to, but can be given a lot more attention,” Shastri said. “He is a very amiable guy, he has got a mind of his own. He might not be a flippant type, but when he opens his mouth, he will definitely be heard especially on cricketing matters,” he added. Shastri quickly brought up the need to upgrade the stadium’s infrastructure and amenities when discussing the BCCI’s areas for improvement under the new president. “The most important thing is that the facilities at the ground should be uplifted big time. It should be insisted upon,” he asserted.
