Sourav Ganguly, man in a hurry at the CAB

Sourav Ganguly, outside his room, at the CAB HQ
Sourav Ganguly, outside his room, at the CAB HQ

Calcutta:

Around an hour with Sourav Ganguly in his joint secretary’s room at Eden Gardens, where the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is headquartered, actually makes you wonder whether captaining India was tougher for him or managing the many roles he’s now playing.

An administrator’s hat is just one that Sourav is wearing. He’s also co-owner of an ISL franchise, ‘architect’ of a mega project in education and co-opted member of the Justice Mukul Mudgal panel which is probing “13 individuals,” including Narayanswamy Srinivasan.

Besides, locally, Sourav is much in demand to be the face of a product or venture. From steel bars to health insurance to real estate.

“Different roles have different responsibilities… The demands are different… But, in everything, captaining India remains at the top… Doesn’t compare with anything,” Sourav told The Telegraph.

The No.1 difference?

“As captain, if I made a mistake, I didn’t get a second chance… It’s different today… I can correct an unintended error,” Sourav replied.

At the CAB, Sourav seems a man in a hurry. Nothing wrong, though… He has travelled the world, has ideas and wants cricket in the state to move forward.

As captain, both on and off the field, Sourav wasn’t conventional, which is one big reason why he was successful. He wants to be different at the CAB as well.

“I’m certainly not in this chair for (cream cracker) biscuits and tea in the evenings… There’s work to be done, but what’s amazing is the number of people on the staff who’re keen to make a difference…

“I accept this is a new hat that I’m wearing, but I haven’t got into the CAB to add to my CV,” Sourav said.

Not that Sourav isn’t aware of the high expectations. Talk of pressure and he counters by saying he’s been used to it for decades.

Sourav is 42.

Even if the biscuits aren’t touched, tea can’t be avoided. Not in the Maidan’s environment.

So, grinning, Sourav pressed a button and asked for “dudh diye cha.” With papers and cheques to sign, he definitely needed a cha break.

Sourav’s maiden appearance as an administrator, at the Eden, was in early August, but he’s begun to settle down only more recently, after India’s tour of England.

Media-related assignments kept Sourav, too, in England.

Till the early 2000s, at the Eden, mediapersons would follow every move of Jagmohan Dalmiya. Today, dozens scramble over once word spreads that “Dada” has arrived.

One bite, one quote… The Sourav-generated buzz is unmistakable.

Some probably feel they’re being marginalised rather quickly, but Sourav is confident he’ll be getting the support of everybody.

The CAB continues to be headed by Dalmiya.

New to the role or not, it hasn’t stopped some on the CAB’s payroll from directly approaching “Dada” for a hike.

Apparently, one of the staffers went to the extent of telling Sourav that if the CAB couldn’t raise his salary, then he could consider paying him extra from his own resources!

From the players’ mindset to the dreary look of the CAB’s indoor facility, Sourav wants plenty to change.

But just how much time would be needed for the changes to set in?

“At least a year… I’m settling down well and, as I’ve observed, a number of people in the CAB really want to put in that extra bit. I’m very hopeful,” Sourav pointed out.

Lest a wrong impression be created (and encouraged by those with a vested interest), Sourav added: “It’s not about me… It’s about the institution.”

Sourav, meanwhile, is off to New Delhi on Sunday for a meeting of the Justice Mudgal panel. He’s the cricket fraternity’s only representative involved with the Supreme Court-ordered investigations.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph, Calcutta / Front Page> Sport> Today / by Lokendra Pratap Sahi / Calcutta – Sunday, September 21st, 2014

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