You have to ask that question to Modi ji: Sourav Ganguly on resuming ties with Pakistan

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was announced as the sole BCCI president-elect nominee in Mumbai on Monday (October 14), which was the last date for filing nominations for the BCCI elections. With no opposition, Ganguly will take over as the new BCCI President unopposed on October 23, the day of the BCCI elections.

He will have his task cut out at a board which is without a permanent president since the removal of Anurag Thakur in 2016. One of them will be to reconsider BCCI’s stance on the bilateral relation with arch-rivals Pakistan. The bilateral ties between the two nations are suspended at the moment due to the political tension.

India and Pakistan have not played a Test series since 2007 and play against each other only in ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup. They last locked horns in this year’s World Cup when India thrashed the Men in Green. And it looks like the ties between the two nations will remain suspended. Ganguly reiterated that the BCCI will do whatever the government of India asks it to do.

“You have to ask that question to Modi ji and the Pakistan Prime Minister. Of course we have (to take permission), because international exposure (tours) is all through governments. So we don’t have an answer to that question,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Focus on first-class cricketers, says Sourav Ganguly

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly has made it clear that his topmost priority as the BCCI head will be to look after first-class cricketers. He said that he will make sure that the remunerations increase for the players as first-class cricket is the base for the national team.

“For me, my biggest focus will be first-class cricket,” Ganguly said. “I have been very vocal about looking after the first-class players, especially the time they invest. First-class cricket is the base, the strength. I have written so many times in the last few years that the remunerations need to increase, and increase manifold.

“So that’s going to be priority to set the first-class cricket in order. Look at cricket structure, look how governance happens and see smooth functioning happens with no issues.”

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