West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee named former India skipper Sourav Ganguly as the new chief of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) as the successor to Jagmohan Dalmiya, who passed away on September 20th. Ganguly, who is currently the joint secretary of the Bengal association since 2014, will be the first Test player to head CAB. Abhishek, late Jagmohan Dalmiya’s son, is in line to become the joint secretary of the association.

“We’ll have to call for a meeting with all the members. I have to be thankful to all the members for this opportunity. If all the 117 members agree, then I’m ready to take up the responsibility. It will be a challenge, we have to keep working everyday. We will all work together,” Ganguly told the press.

“It’s not CM’s sole decision. She has spoken to everyone. I’m very happy that she wanted Abhishek (Dalmiya) in. Whatever time they want me to go, I’ll go. It’s an emotional time for him and I will support him,” Ganguly added.

Ganguly’s new role as the head of an East zone state association gives him the power to play a crucial role in the upcoming BCCI‘s presidential elections.