Happy to get an opportunity in a tough situation: Ganguly

Kolkata: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly is all set to become the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after the affiliated units of the cricket board unanimously selected him for the top job in Mumbai on Monday.

Back in the City of Joy on Tuesday, Ganguly said his top most priority will be to change the life of the first-class

cricketers as they deserve attention.

Speaking to the media at the Kolkata airport, Ganguly not only thanked the people for their support, but also promised that he will leave no stones unturned for the betterment of the Indian cricket.

"It is a great responsibility and hopefully I can do a good job. Its a two different lives -- one is cricketer and the second one of an administrator. Firstly, I think what makes me more happy is that I got an opportunity in a tough situation and it gives me tremendous confidence and makes me feel that they have confidence in my ability. I have a young team and it will be new for all of them, but all of us will work to the best of our abilities and we won't lack anywhere," he expressed.

Speaking on his priorities after taking over, Ganguly said: "First-class cricketers will be my priority and we will change their life. You only look at the top but we will also look at the bottom as many gems of Indian cricket lie there and we will change their life."

The T20I World Cup is slated for the next year and commenting on India's expectation at the showpiece event, he said: "India is a good team and they are playing well. Yes, I know they haven't won a big tournament, but I know they will turn things around. (Virat) Kohli is a champion player and he will turn it around."

The Cricket Association of Bengal, meanwhile, rolled out the red carpet for their favourite son.

Meanwhile, the Indian Cricket Board president-elect Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday said the achievement of Nobel prize winner and fellow Bangali Abhijit Banerjee was much bigger than his.

"It's (Nobel prize) a much bigger and terrific achievement. I have not met him (Banerjee) ever. I was reading about him in the flight and what he did ... It's on economics related to poverty. He's a special person. Hopefully I will meet him someday," Ganguly said returning to his home town to a rousing reception

after being elected as the BCCI president.

"From all of us, heartiest congratulations (to Banerjee)," he added.

Banerjee, who is a teacher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Monday became the eighth Indian to get the award and was jointly chosen the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize winner along with Esther Duflo, also MIT professor and Harvard University's Michael Kremer for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.

Duflo, who is Banerjee's wife, is the second woman to win the Nobel Prize for economics and its youngest recipient.

On the same day, Ganguly, the former Indian cricket captain emerged as the lone contender in the race to be the BCCI president. He was the only one to have filed the nomination for world cricket's most-coveted post.