BCCI in safe hands with Dalmiya on top: Ganguly

In the aftermath of the IPL spot-fixing scandal the BCCI may have been shrouded by controversy but with Jagmohan Dalmiya back as president the Indian cricket board is in “safe hands”, former India captain Sourav Ganguly on Thursday.

Dalmiya was unanimously chosen for the BCCI top post to make a dramatic comeback nine years after he was booted out in Jaipur on charges of misappropriation of funds. “We are extremely proud of you. We love you, we respect you whether you are BCCI president or not we will still respect you as much. It’s good for CAB. Hope he will take the Indian cricket forward,” the former lefthander told reporters on the sidelines of CAB’s felicitation programme of Dalmiya.

“You made us proud and you would continue to make us proud. We know that Indian cricket is in safe hands with you at the helm. He has run the show for a long time, and I’m sure he will serve the 

Indian cricket for good,” Ganguly said.

Exactly a month after being re-elected BCCI president, the CAB organised the felicitation at the Kshudiram Anushilan Kendra as Dalmiya was showered with gifts from all the CAB top officials, affiliated units, coaching clubs and schools. Also present on the occasion was Karnataka State Cricket Association secretary Brijesh Patel.

However, Ganguly sidestepped queries about KKR’s mystery spinner Sunil Narine not yet getting clearance from the BCCI to play in the IPL. Asked why BCCI has not given the go-ahead to the West Indies bowler even after he was cleared by the ICC, Ganguly said: “I am not totally aware of the rules and regulations. (BCCI president) Jagmohan Dalmiya will be the better person to answer this. He might have an answer.”

The West Indies cricketer was banned during the 2014 Champions League Twenty20 for suspect bowling action. He has been cleared by the ICC, but the BCCI has asked him to undergo another test in Chennai. The KKR has been on the warpath with the BCCI on the issue, and threatened to pull out of the IPl if he was not allowed to play.