If Sourav Ganguly goes ahead with his new-found plans of returning to first-class cricket, then he better get ready to face a few hard questions first from the CAB before gearing up to don the Bengal shirt in the Ranji Trophy.

With the former Indian captain apparently looking to utilise the Ranji platform as match practice for the IPL Twenty20 carnival next summer, the Jagmohan Dalmiya-led CAB administration will make sure Ganguly makes a concession or two, if sources in the state association are to be believed.

Bengal will take on Delhi, Baroda and Saurashtra in their three home matches in the Ranji Trophy this season, and Ganguly is learnt to be eyeing the home matches.

The CAB obviously welcomes Ganguly, but with a couple of riders. Firstly, the state body will try and put pressure on the KKR player to play as many matches as possible instead of just picking home matches of his choice.

The other point that the CAB officials would take up with Ganguly is his role as chairman of the Cricket Development Committee. Ganguly is heading the star-studded panel that comprises Pranab Roy, Arun Lal and Ashok Malhotra. And their roles include assessing the performance of the Bengal players and the Bengal selectors, and offering suggestions based upon their observations.

So, if Ganguly now takes to the 22-yard strip, then it would be unwise and illogical for him to head the development panel whose job is to assess the players’ performances, high-ups in the CAB administration pointed out to The Indian Express.

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