In a surprise development, a former West Bengal Director General of Police has decided to take on veteran cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya in the election to the post of president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, scheduled later this month.
Dinesh Bajpai, also a former Kolkata police commissioner, confirmed he would throw his hat into the ring for the top job in CAB at its Annual General Meeting on July 27.
"Yes, I have decided to contest," said Bajpai, who is also the president of the Bengal Hockey Association.
The retired IPS officer alleged that Dalmiya, who is heading the CAB for almost a decade on the trot, has little time for Bengal cricket, as he is "too busy" with cricket politics at the national and international levels.
"He is too tied up. And that Bengal narrowly staved off relegation from the Ranji Trophy elite group last year is testimony to the fact that all is not well with Bengal cricket," he said.
Despite several attempts, Dalmiya could not be contacted for comment.
Bajpai said several clubs affiliated to the CAB had been approaching him for quite some time to contest against Dalmiya, considered one of the most powerful persons in Indian cricket.
"Clubs have been coming to me for the last few days. Initially I was reluctant but when the pressure grew, I agreed to fight the elections," Bajpai said.
Asked whether he was confident of winning, Bajpai took recourse to cricket parlance.
"Cricket is a game of uncertainties. And very often it is difficult to guess the outcome till the last ball is bowled."
Bajpai indicated that he is planning to fight the elections as part of a panel.
"Since morning, I have been getting a lot of telephone calls. Many are saying that they want to be nominated for one or the other posts. I am holding parleys. A decision will be taken soon."
The former senior police officer, however, did not agree that he had the backing of the anti-Dalmiya lobby in the CAB.
"I have no idea whether they are anti or pro Dalmiya."
Dalmiya, who represents the state association in the Board of Control for Cricket in India, is a former president of the BCCI as well as a former chief of the game's world body, the International Cricket Council.
The last time Dalmiya faced a contest for the CAB president's post was four years ago, when challenger Debdas Banerjee suffered a crushing defeat.
