Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Incumbent Jagmohan Dalmiya is unlikely to be opposed in the coming Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) presidential elections July 31, with the dissident group deciding not to put up any candidate.
The opposition’s decision appeared a tactical one, aimed at giving a year’s time to former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly to prepare the ground for mounting a serious challenge to Dalmiya - a former president of world cricket’s apex body International Cricket Council - in the CAB Annual General Meeting in 2010.

“It is more or less decided that Ganguly will attend the CAB AGM this year as a club representative. It is too late now for somebody so new to CAB politics to fight against a strong opponent like Dalmiya. We are now looking at 2010,” a leading figure in the dissident camp told IANS Saturday night on condition of anonimity.

The dissidents, who were earlier trying to find a big name to take on the seasoned cricket administrator after Ganguly’s initial refusal, decided not to put up any nominee this year as the retired left hand batsman Wednesday publicly expressed his willingness to enter the Bengal cricket administration.

“Ganguly has the right stature and background to match Dalmiya. He is better than any other candidate we can think of as Dalmiya’s challenger.

“And he will not contest unless he feels he has a reasonable chance to win. The one year period gives him time to learn the ropes and interact with the 121 voters in the CAB,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Dalmiya said it was for Ganguly to decide whether he will involve himself with the CAB. “If he wants to come, he is welcome.”

Dalmiya has held on to the CAB president’s post since 1993 except for a 19-month break from end December 2006 to the middle of last year.

The former BCCI chief had stepped down from the CAB top post towards 2006 end after being slapped with a ban by the BCCI then controlled by Sharad Pawar, but returned to power in 2008 by defeating then president Prasun Mukherjee.