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The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is in turmoil as former president Abhishek Dalmiya alleged corruption and governance failures against Sourav Ganguly and his administration. However, ahead of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September, CAB has denied all the allegations against the former Indian captain.
The Bengal Cricket Association, in a three-page letter to West Bengal Sports Minister Dr Indranil Khan, defended its administrative structure and rejected rumors about corruption, lack of transparency and “systemic rot”. The response comes days after Avishek Dalmiya wrote a letter to the state’s Sports Integrity and Anti-Corruption Helpline requesting an investigation into alleged misconduct within Bengal cricket.
Never faced a single charge – Sourav Ganguly faces false charge against CAB
The Bengal Cricket Association statement, signed by Sourav Ganguly, secretary Bablu Kole and other office members, sought clarity on why Abhishek chose to raise the issue publicly instead of discussing it internally.
The letter also said that Sourav has been a good administrator as he has served as India captain, Bengal Cricket Association President, BCCI President and ICC Cricket Committee Chairman and “has not yet faced a single allegation against his integrity.”
The ombudsman and ethics officer system set up under the Lodha reforms ordered by the Supreme Court said High Court Chief Justice Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya will hear the case before giving a final verdict. As Avishek Dalmiya knows how CAB works, he has been both secretary and chairman, and hence he had no reason to sideline it.
“Any complaint brought before the Forum is dealt with with the highest level of legal sanctity, impartiality and transparency, completely free from interference from present functionaries,” the letter said.
Administrator never complained- Cricket Association of Bengal
“Given that a retired Chief Justice of the High Court heads this supreme integrity mechanism within our Constitution, bypassing this established judicial forum through open public letters appears to be an attempt to publicize sports governance issues rather than address genuine concerns through proper legal channels.”
The association further said: “It is particularly ironic when such communications emanate from a former Administrator who has been well acquainted with these institutional mechanisms during his tenure as Secretary and Chairman till 2022 and in fact, the Administrator has never complained with respect to any irregularities of the CAB from 2022 till date.”
Cricket Association of Bengal also denied other major allegations made by the former president. “The concerns expressed regarding corruption, systemic rot, ‘selection integrity’ and lack of transparency do not accurately reflect the functioning of the Bengal Cricket Association,” the letter said.
This is a big surprise for everyone- Cricket Association of Bengal
According to the CAB, in the last three decades, presidents like BN Dutt, Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sourav Ganguly and Avishek Dalmiya himself had overseen the CAB without facing such allegations. “It is therefore surprising that recent communications indicate that discrepancies exist in other administrations, except during his own tenure,” the letter said.
“To suggest that everything was working correctly only during a specific tenure and was flawed during all others is untenable.”
“Generalizing the wrongdoings or setting blanket assumptions on most of them is a gross misinterpretation of the facts and deeply disregards their serious efforts and intentions. No former CAB president or secretary has ever issued a public letter like this, and it is a huge surprise to everyone within the association.”