Just 10 days left for the nomination process to get done at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). And it is well-known that Sourav Ganguly will file his nomination for the president’s post, with the AGM on September 22. What is not known is will there be a contest? Will his panel be challenged by candidates from the Avishek Dalmiya group? And that’s where the problem is. Sourav and Avishek — how did it come to this? Why and where did it all start to go wrong and is there an end to the acrimony? The two were closest allies and the bond was the strongest. Now all of it is a thing of the past.
Before I go into the details, a caveat is in order. Sourav is a close friend and so is Avishek. I have learnt my understanding of administration from Avishek’s father and he was more than a mentor to me. In fact, it was Jagmohan Dalmiya who did the ashirvad at my wedding, given I had lost my father in 2000. That we were close is an understatement. Sourav is as close and has been with me the entire time in the last few years. His support for RevSportz for example has always been strong. In sum, I know both of them well and have seen them up close. I have also known the families well enough. May be that’s why this piece.
Avishek started out as an administrator in rather strange circumstances. And it was Sourav who literally hand-held his formal entry into cricket administration. Jagu da had passed away and we were all sitting in his 10 Alipore Road residence when Sourav was asked to meet the CM. The meeting was much talked about at the time and Sourav, I vividly remember, asked Avishek to go with him. Avishek was keen on getting into administration but was a complete rookie. He needed the blessings of the CM and Sourav to a large extent to make it possible. With Sourav as president, Avishek became the secretary. And as president, Sourav made a signature contribution by revamping the drainage at Eden Gardens. He got key games to Kolkata and thereafter as BCCI President also got the first day-night Test match in India to Eden Gardens.
All this while, Avishek was the CAB secretary and then, when Sourav became the BCCI president, Avishek assumed the reins of the association. So far so good. It was a team and that’s what worked for Bengal. Now this camaraderie is a thing of the past. Every second day there is a case filed against an affiliate unit and already multiple such cases have been dismissed in courts. Once the sports tribunal is set up under the National Sports Act, this tried and tested election strategy will not work either. I have heard of multiple meetings with clubs where unpleasant things have been said. While Sourav has overwhelming support, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have already openly said so, and will win uncontested, whether or not Avishek puts up candidates for the other posts is of interest.
The truth is Sourav is the best choice for president. By a country mile. You need his involvement for the sport to thrive. For players to benefit. For Eden to have a voice within the BCCI. Avishek knows it well enough is my assumption.
If India and China can get together and if a new troika can be formed globally with Russia, India and China talking collaboration, one wonders what stops Avishek to go up to Sourav and Snehasish and settle things. Sort the differences and mend bridges. Nothing is impossible and had his father been alive, I am sure he’d have said the same. In politics, it is never say never and with the Sports Act, each one has many years left. For now, Eden deserves better. Bengal cricket deserves better and cricketers deserve better. Sourav is the man for the job for the next four years and an acrimonious election can never help an association.
I am sure Avishek will have his side of the story. In fact, he does. So does Snehasish. There are skeletons and the real deal is to not wash dirty linen in public. That’s why you need Sourav to assume control yet again. For cricket, this acrimony has to stop. Anything else, and the sport will suffer. I know it is hard but I also know it is never say never.
Finally, I am sure Avishek will read this piece. Whether he decides to act on it is a different matter altogether. As a well-wisher, I hope he does.
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