Sports India

Seconds after 3.15 pm today, an email from distant Northamptonshire in England landed in a Kolkata inbox. Barely an hour later, the mail—sent from sourav87@hotmail.com to a ‘‘friend’s account’’—had snowballed into another cricket controversy.

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For, it had Sourav Ganguly denouncing Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI boss who had played a key role in shaping the Bengal star’s rise to the pinnacle of Indian cricket.

On the face of it, the email expresses the Bengal star’s support for Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, who is contesting the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) elections next week against Dalmiya. But the text and tone of Ganguly’s email signals the end of a partnership that dominated Indian cricket for over five years since 2000.

Ironically, Ganguly has drawn his ammunition from coach Greg Chappell’s email of last September that virtually consigned him to the dustbin a month after he was removed as captain. Ganguly now hints at Chappell’s email, which had accused him of “deceit and rumour-mongering”, having been leaked to the media by Dalmiya’s men in the CAB.

‘‘People who leak emails and sacrifice players’ careers should be heavily punished. There are people in CAB who are playing with players’ careers to suit them. They should not be left scot-free as it takes years of hard work to reach a certain level in sport,” says the email that was sent to Sanjoy87@hotmail.com, an account operated by Sourav’s brother Snehashish Ganguly. Snehashish, who read out from a hard copy of the mail at the Police Club at the maidan in Kolkata, has already expressed his support for the anti-Dalmiya camp.

“I am happy that the chief minister and the people concerned are addressing the issues and working in the right path,” said the email.

Obviously, Dalmiya is a disappointed man, fighting his final battle in Indian cricket with his back to the wall by ignoring West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s advice and filing his nominations papers for the post of CAB president today.

‘‘Let me make this clear, Sourav is a very fine player. But I don’t expect loyalties from anyone, because I am no longer with the BCCI. And I really have nothing to expect,’’ said Dalmiya.

But he did display the composure that has seen him come up trumps in various cricket boardroom battles. ‘‘What? Again email? My God! We are yet to overcome the previous email (sent by Greg Chappell) and you are talking about another one now,” he said.

According to sources, Sourav’s rift with Dalmiya started last year when the 32-year-old felt that that the Kolkata businessman had not stood by him when he was sacked after the Zimbabwe tour in August. There’s also this simmering hope of a recall with the backing of one section of the current Board, which wants him to ‘‘retire gracefully’’ after one more Test series.

However, any possible chances of Ganguly’s return remains a long shot. For, the men who decide the way the ball rolls in the team are against his return.

In fact, a top member of the Indian contingent had told this paper that there was a fear that the former captain was still in touch with some of his supporters in the team, even suggesting to them that he may return soon.

But he saw no scope for the Bengal star’s return, as does the majority of the Board. In fact, one senior BCCI official told this newspaper today: ‘‘The coach doesn’t want him, the team-members are happy without him and the selectors aren’t convinced either. That apart, his performances don’t speak for him either. What else is to be considered? The last time we took a call to give him one last opportunity was when he was sent to Pakistan. Now, there’s no looking back. His career is over as far as playing for India is concerned.’’