I do my job as BCCI president and don’t have to reply hypothesis: Sourav Ganguly

From COVID-19 disruptions to allegations that he has tried to affect selectors to criticism that not sufficient has been finished for girls’s cricket throughout his tenure, Sourav Ganguly has endured a difficult 26 months as BCCI President.
But in an interview with PTI, the previous India captain not simply rejected the accusations thrown at him but in addition supplied a mild reminder to his critics — a lot earlier than turning into the BCCI boss, he was a celebrated India cricketer and performed in a whopping 424 worldwide matches, 113 of them Tests.

Steering away from the drama surrounding the tip of Virat Kohli’s captaincy tenure, Ganguly answered questions on different delicate points just like the recently-announced resumption of the Ranji Trophy in two phases, the nonetheless awaited choice on India’s new Test captain, and begin of the Women’s IPL.
He additionally disclosed that the India-West Indies T20Is in Kolkata this month can be a “closed-door” affair and laughed when advised about hypothesis of a doable rift with Board secretary Jay Shah.
Excerpts 
Q: There have been allegations that you’ve got been influencing the choice committee and also you sit within the conferences to place strain on the selectors?
A: I don’t suppose I have to reply anyone something (on this) and dignify any of those baseless accusations. I’m the president of BCCI and I do the job of what the president of BCCI needs to be doing. Also simply to let you realize, I see an image doing the rounds (of social media) exhibiting me sitting in a variety committee assembly. I need to make it clear, that image (the place Ganguly could be seen sitting with secretary Jay Shah, skipper Virat Kohli and joint secretary Jayesh George) wasn’t from a variety committee assembly.

Jayesh George isn’t part of choice committee conferences. (I’ve performed) 424 worldwide matches for India. Not a foul concept at occasions to remind individuals about it, isn’t it? (laughs)
Q: How has been your working relationship with Jay Shah within the final 26 months within the Indian cricket board?
A: I share a implausible relationship with Jay. He is a really pricey pal and a trusted colleague. Me, Jay, Arun (Dhumal) and Jayesh (George), we now have all been working collectively to get the board getting in these troublesome occasions particularly with COVID-19 in these two years. To be sure that cricket occurs. I might say it has been a implausible two years. We have all finished it as a staff.
Q: What type of a brand new Test captain are you after Virat Kohli’s choice to step down?
A: Obviously, there are particular parameters of management and whoever suits the invoice would be the subsequent Indian Test captain. I imagine selectors may have a reputation in thoughts and they’ll talk about it with office-bearers — President and Secretary — and it will likely be introduced in the end of time.
Q: You had not too long ago stated that Rahane and Pujara can be taking part in Ranji Trophy. But does that imply they will get dropped for Sri Lanka Tests though that’s now pushed to March?
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
A: What I meant was that they’ll play Ranji Trophy because it begins earlier than the Sri Lanka collection. After that, the selectors will take a name. Ranji Trophy Elite group begins in third week of February and Sri Lanka Tests are in March. It will fully be the decision of choice committee and no matter they determine.
Q: When will we see somebody like Hardik Pandya again in India fold? At least choices obtainable proper now, isn’t the staff feeling Hardik’s absence?
A: Hardik was injured and a break was given to him to fully get better, in order that he can proceed to serve Indian cricket for a protracted time period. I imagine I’ll see him play some Ranji Trophy to begin with.
India’s Hardik Pandya walks off dejected. (REUTERS)
I count on him to bowl much more overs and his physique will get stronger. Also he’s now captain of Ahmedabad IPL and that can be a platform the place his kind and health can be checked by selectors. Accordingly, they’ll take a name.
Q: Let’s discuss Ranji Trophy. The BCCI is lastly getting it began however even after growing match payment to as much as Rs 2.4 lakh per sport for a sure bracket, most groups would find yourself taking part in solely three first-class video games. Isn’t it a monetary loss and a difficulty for all stakeholders?
A: They have performed Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali additionally the place the match cash has elevated. You have to grasp that after we mentioned with the medical staff, it was determined to maintain 4 groups in a gaggle in a selected metropolis as that was the one method we might in all probability keep the sanctity of a bio-bubble in COVID occasions.
More variety of people in any explicit place would improve the speed of infections. That’s why venues are extra and groups are much less. The time frame, as we had postponed the mid-January begin as a consequence of spike in circumstances, was additionally an element. We need to have the U-25, U-19 knock-outs, Women’s T20.
(Representational Image)
The IPL and Women’s T20 problem is there. Lots of first-class gamers could be a part of IPL groups. So it’s a mix of every little thing. The BCCI would by no means need its first-class gamers to incur losses.
Q: Why isn’t BCCI beginning the ladies’s IPL straightaway? Why once more a T20 Challenge when a state unit like CAB is having a six staff 90-player girls’s T20 membership meet?
A: We are on the stage of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is actually going to occur. I strongly imagine that subsequent 12 months i.e. 2023 can be an excellent time to begin a full-fledged girls’s IPL which can be as massive and grand a hit as males’s IPL.
Q: IPL is being held in India hopefully. How massive a aid will that be?
A: Well, as BCCI has at all times maintained that that is the Indian Premier League and we might ideally need to maintain it in India. Yes, we haven’t but formally introduced as we’re nonetheless monitoring the COVID-19 state of affairs within the nation. Yes, we’d finalise the venues in a while. The plan may be very a lot to carry it in India and we’re making ready accordingly.

Q: Any particular celebrations for India’s one thousandth ODI, which can be in opposition to the West Indies on Sunday?
A: No, nothing as corresponding to every little thing is being held within the bubble. We have to keep up the COVID-19 protocols so sure elaborate celebrations gained’t be doable and in any case matches are being held closed doorways.
Q: The state authorities has allowed 75 per cent spectators on the Eden Gardens for the three T20Is. But isn’t BCCI cautious given Motera is having closed-door ODIs?
A: Let me put this on report. We usually are not permitting spectators on the Eden Gardens for the three T20 Internationals. There is not going to be any tickets for common public. The solely individuals allowed are CAB officers and representatives of the assorted models.
In these occasions, we will’t threat the well being of the gamers by permitting spectators. No tickets for the stands of Life or Associate members can be issued. Obviously, we now have the clearance of West Bengal authorities however BCCI doesn’t need to threat the well being security of gamers.