Reflecting on his eventful tenure as BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly has revealed that he anticipated a “certain kind of toughness and stubbornness” from the then Board secretary and present ICC chairman Jay Shah but was left impressed together with his “honesty” and resolve to do issues “properly”.
Ganguly and Shah have been colleagues on the world’s richest cricket board from October 2019 to September 2022, navigating a tumultuous section attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced sporting exercise to a grinding halt for few months.
“He (Jay) had his own way of doing things but the best thing about him was he wanted to do things properly for Indian cricket,” Ganguly informed PTI in an unique interview at his residence in Kolkata.
“See, he had the power, the support, so you expected certain kind of toughness, stubbornness from him but he would do things for Indian cricket,” the long-lasting former captain defined, referring to Shah’s standing of being the son of Home Minister Amit Shah.
It was the primary time that each Ganguly and Shah held BCCI positions. Before that, Ganguly had headed the Cricket Association of Bengal, whereas Shah was an office-bearer within the Gujarat Cricket Association.
While Ganguly was changed by one other former Test participant Roger Binny in 2022, Shah continued as BCCI secretary until November 2024 earlier than taking on because the youngest ever ICC chairman at 36 years of age.
Asked about how the ability dynamics and relationship was between the scion of a political household and a celebrated cricket star, Ganguly mentioned they shared a cordial equation which has continued to this date.
“Relationship was very good. It’s still very good. When he came in September 2019…he was a young boy, straight from Gujarat CA, very cooperative, approachable,” he recalled.
“Obviously, he had opinions and rightfully so, he wanted to do things and still does, he is the ICC chairman and it is a bigger post.” Ganguly believes that with time, Shah grew to become higher at his job.
“He is very supportive of players. He got better as he learnt. The good thing about him was he wanted to do good for the game,” the soon-to-be-53 celebrity mentioned.
The Kolkata-based legend mentioned Shah was conscious about his standing and all the time wished to hold out his work in a principled method.
“He is very honest, he always had the thought (about) who he was at the back of his mind, what baggage he carried. So, he wanted to do things rightfully and properly all the time.
“All of us made errors, I did, he did. It was by no means intentional but the sport by no means stopped,” Ganguly added.
The former captain said they do bump into each other occasionally.
“Obviously, he has progressed, he is the ICC Chairman now. You see him at instances since you stay in numerous cities. I’m not concerned in administration, I want him the very best.
“I saw him in England this time for a little bit. I meet him in ICC meetings because I am the chair of the (ICC cricket) committee and he wants the game to grow and go forward.”
