Sourav Ganguly’s hopes of becoming the next ICC chairman have been dashed as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear that it will support Greg Barclay, the current chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to continue in the position, instead of backing Ganguly.

Office holders have been given authority to make decisions regarding this by the BCCI representative for ICC and CEC, AGM.

Ganguly recently failed to get enough backing for a second term as BCCI president, with Roger Binny replacing him at the top post. Jay Shah remains the secretary of the Indian board while Arun Dhumal was named the IPL chairman in a rejig of the members.

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The two BCCI representatives who will attend the ICC are the only major topic of speculation, as Indian Express previously reported. Jay Shah is expected to represent India at the ICC meetings and the BCCI has made it clear that it will pass on the ICC chairmanship and support Greg Barclay of New Zealand for a second term.

Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal CM, on Monday, had appealed to the Indian PM Narendra Modi to allow the former India cricketer and BCCI chief to contest for the position of ICC chairperson.

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Given Ganguly’s popularity in West Bengal, his ouster as BCCI president has started a new battle between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP. The CPI, Congress, and all non-BJP aligned parties have alleged that Ganguly’s exit as BCCI president was a result of him saying no to the BJP.

Reports had suggested last year that BJP wanted Ganguly to contest the assembly polls last year and his name was even making rounds as a probable BJP chief ministerial candidate. At the same time, TMC also tried to get Ganguly to align with them. Leading to this tussle, Ganguly opted out of entering politics.

(Indian Express inputs)