Sourav Ganguly discontent with BCCI over cancellation of Bengal's resheduled Ranji match

Cricket Association of Bengal  (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly is reportedly unhappy with the BCCI’s decision to cancel Bengal’s rescheduled Ranji Trophy encounter against Gujarat. It has been learnt that he will send a formal letter to take up the issue with the BCCI brass including president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke.

“I am aware of the situation. I will be taking up this issue at the appropriate forum with President Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke,” Ganguly told PTI on Tuesday.

Ganguly also confirms that he has asked his players to keep the morale high as they play an important match against Madhya Pradesh, starting today (December 7).

“I have told the boys that they should just focus on the match and not think about anything else. Their goal should be to win the match,” the former skipper added.

Bengal’s Ranji encounter against Gujarat hit (November 7-10) was rescheduled after two abandoned days of play. The smog at the venue affected the visibility and the umpires decided to call –off the day.

BCCI was planning to hold the abandoned matches at the end of the scheduled league from December 15 to 18 but MCA but Mumbai Cricket Association and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) took up the matter with BCCI citing it as an “unfair advantage” for the two teams.

However, CAB feels that the decision to revoke falls flat due to amended BCCI constitution Page 3 Clause F (ii) which states: “The Committee shall recommend a change if any in the format or schedule of the Senior Tournaments to the Technical Committee”.

The CAB plans to point out these particular amendment done in the playing conditions and rules. Shirke had earlier in the day said, “There was some confusion on that. We have now decided to make the rules more explicit so that such situations may not occur in future, everything is a learning process. This is the first time there was a smog-pollution affected match and therefore, I think what the senior tournament committee has decided is a fair call in the interest of cricket and within the rules.”