The decks have been cleared for Sourav Ganguly to take charge of the Cricket Association of Bengal, with the state's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, announcing on Thursday that the association's senior officials had taken the decision. He will replace Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died on Sunday, and whose son Avishek will succeed Ganguly as secretary.

All of this will have to be officially approved by the CAB governing body but, given that the decisions have Banerjee's blessings, the approval should be a formality. Ganguly has been joint secretary of the CAB from July 2014. He has been involved in several administative roles in the Board including being a member of the three-man cricket advisory committee along with his teammates Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman and also is a part of the IPL Governing Council.

His elevation to the top post also queers the pitch in the race to fill the BCCI president's position, also held by Dalmiya. Ganguly will probably control two votes in the East Zone - those of the CAB and the National Cricket Club - and could become a lightning-rod for the other zonal associations, who had earlier gravitated to Dalmiya. If that happens, it will make him a more powerful player in BCCI politics.

Replacing Dalmiya, Ganguly said, would leave him with "big shoes to fill".

"Anything in life is a new challenge," Ganguly told reporters. "I am particularly happy that Avishek is coming into administration as it is a very emotional time for him. Myself, Biswarup [Dey, the treasurer], Subir [Ganguly, the joint secretary] would all work together and there won't be any problems. We have [121] members and we will decide the way forward."