Ganguly begins new innings as cricket administrator

Kolkata, July 27 (IANS) Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly Sunday started a new innings as a cricket administrator - with his unanimous election to the joint secretary's post at the Cricket Association of Bengal's 83rd annual general meeting here.

Ganguly, a talismanic left hand bat during his playing days who captained India to the world cup final in 2003, followed in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors and contemporaries like Polly Umrigar, Bishan Singh Bedi, Dilip Vengsarkar, Javagal Srinath, Brijesh Patel, Shivlal Yadav and Anil Kumble who achieved varying degrees of success as cricket administrators.

Ganguly's election, however, was a foregone conclusion with there being no challenger to his candidacy.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, who was also unanimously reelected as CAB president, welcomed Ganguly into full-time cricket administration.

"When I was the BCCI president, he was the captain. As a team we did well. And I hope this team will again do a great job," Dalmiya said after the AGM.

He said Ganguly has assured him that he would devote "sufficient time" for the game despite his busy schedule.

In the past Ganguly has been member of CAB sub-committees like cricket development.