One of the most daring captains to have ever played the game, Sourav Ganguly’s leadership is still lauded by many.
From taking the captaincy of a team full of youngsters after the match-fixing exposes in 2000, he adapted to his new role quickly. Under him, the team began winning overseas and made it to the finals of 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
But despite being one of the top stars of international cricket for close to a decade, the former India skipper has admitted that organising matches of the 2016 World Twenty20 at the historic Eden Gardens was an experience of a lifetime for him.
“I may have played 400-plus matches but I must say hosting a world tournament is a lifetime experience and an eye-opener,” Ganguly said at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) annual awards ceremony on Tuesday (August 8).
Ganguly, who is now one of the leading cricket administrators in the country, was still finding his feet as an administrator in early 2016 when he was elevated as Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president following Jagmohan Dalmiya’s untimely death in September 2015.
But just like he led India with utmost aplomb, he did the same as an administrator, as the Eden Gardens hosted as many as five matches of last year’s Twenty20 World Cup, including the high-voltage India-Pakistan game and the title-decider between West Indies and England.
The 45-year-old further heaped praise on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her contribution in making the India-Pakistan a successful one after it was shifted to Eden Gardens following protests in Dharamsala.
“I remember getting a call from the ICC asking would the Eden Gardens be ready to host the Indo-Pak game,” Ganguly recalled.
“She (Mamata) was somewhere else in the middle of a function and I sent her a text. She immediately responded despite being far away. Within 45 minutes I got a letter from her office with the assurance that the state is ready to provide all security measures that was required,” Ganguly added.
The 45-year-old proceed by mentioning how India’s women’s team performance in the recently-concluded World Cup has changed the scenario in the country. Narrating the incident of his mother being glued to the television set to watch the women in action even though she had stopped watching the game after his retirement, Ganguly, while felicitating Jhulan Goswami said:
“I still very much remember the World Cup final on Sunday. The last time my mother watched a cricket match was when I played, and the next time was when you played.”
“She was sitting next to me and saying I hope Jhulan wins the World Cup. Nevertheless, you will have another opportunity in the Women’s World Twenty20 (next year),” he added.
Mithali Raj & Co. had put up a valiant effort in the tournament beating the likes of England, New Zealand and Australia to make it to the summit-clash where they lost by nine runs to England.
“What a remarkable achievement. You have put women’s cricket on the map. I wish you keep performing and making us proud. India is proud of you and we are slightly more proud because you are from Bengal,” Ganguly said referring to Jhulan.
Jhulan, who had taken three for 23 in the final, was felicitated by Mamata Banerjee, who was the chief guest of the function.