Roger Binny named as Indian Cricket Board Chief

World Cup winner Roger Binny was Tuesday appointed head of India’s cricket board — the sport’s richest body. The BCCI, which has a net worth reported at $2 billion, enjoys significant clout internationally in cricket but has been in chaos and there has been a slew of court cases involving the powerful organization.

Bangalore-born Binny, who was part of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad, steps into the shoes of Ganguly, widely regarded as one of cricket’s greatest captains.

Ganguly, 50, had initially been tipped to earn a second term as president but reports said he was shunted out because he refused to join India’s ruling party.

Ganguly’s political allegiance has been a regular source of media speculation, especially after the country’s Home Minister Amit Shah, father of BCCI secretary Jay, visited him at home earlier this year.

Politicians from Ganguly’s home state of West Bengal, where the former player enjoys near-godlike status, alleged that the former batsman was forced out.