Mamata Banerjee today said Sourav Ganguly "has been deprived" of his post as Indian cricket board chairman and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "compensate him" by sending him to the ICC (International Cricket Council).
Sourav Ganguly had been "unfairly left out", the Bengal Chief Minister said, calling it "bad and sad".
"He has been deprived. Why is he being deprived? What is his fault? Everybody knows it. All the countries. The world. We are proud of him. Not only Bengal, but he is also Bengal's Dada, bhai, brother. But he is a pride for the country and the world. Everybody knows him. Every country that plays cricket, knows him. He has worked with everybody. He is popular figure. That's why he is being deprived? I am really shocked. It's bad and it's sad,'' Mamata Banerjee said, speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport.
"There are only one or two people who are entitled to go to the ICC. I will request the PM, my humble regards to the PM. Please take care that Sourav Ganguly is must be allowed to contest the ICC election."
Nominations for ICC chairman have to be filed on October 20.
Sourav Ganguly, the outgoing chief of the BCCI or Board of Control for Cricket in India, will be succeeded by Roger Binny, an iconic 1983 alum.
Reports suggest the former India captain wanted to continue as BCCI chief but didn't get the backing he wanted from other members.
Though Sourav Ganguly is on his way out, Jay Shah - the son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah - will continue as the board's secretary.
"A court had cleared the way for a second term for Sourav Ganguly and Jay Shah. But don't know why, Amit Shah's son stays. I have nothing against him, but why leave out Sourav? The way he was unfairly left out, the only compensation is ICC. Others have gone from BCCI to ICC," Ms Banerjee said.
"I request the government not to take it vindictively or politically. He is not a political party member. Take a decision for cricket, for sports," she urged.
Sourav Ganguly has, however, said he will contest the Bengal cricket body election.
If he has to run for ICC Chairman, the Indian cricket board has to recommend him. Currently Sourav does not have that support.
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