Ganguly formally elected as the 39th president of BCCI

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was officially elected as the BCCI president on Wednesday.

In carefully trying to avoid an election at all costs, the members had last week unanimously settled for a new set of office-bearers to take charge with Sourav at the helm. He is first India cricketer after the Maharaja of Vizianagaram to become the president of Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI).

Ganguly, however, will be able to serve as BCCI president only up to September 2020, as he is currently the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and will have to go into a compulsory cooling off period.

Ganguly took over as CAB president in 2015, following the death of his administrative mentor Jagmohan Dalmiya.

The 47-year-old Sourav Ganguly had said that he wants to emulate Dalmiya's success at the role.

Ganguly made it clear that his first priority will be to look after first-class cricketers and improve the standard of domestic cricket in the country. After a tumultuous period of administration under the CoA, Ganguly also said he is keen on making the sure BCCI's image is repaired.

"My first priority will be to look after first class cricketers. I had requested to the CoA and they have not listened. Ranji Trophy cricket will be the focus. To take care of cricketers' financial interest," he said after his name was finalized in an informal meeting of BCCI state units.