In the red, Cricket Association of Bengal to check on spending

Kolkata: Stumped by a deficit of Rs 3.70 crore in the last financial year, the Cricket Association of Bengal will now have budget in place for all its sub-committees to check on its spending.

“From now on there would be a budget for everything that we spend in CAB. President (Jagmohan Dalmiya) and all the senior members wanted this,” former India captain and CAB joint secretary Ganguly told reporters after their working committee meeting here.

Asked whether it’s cost-cutting measures by CAB in the aftermath of the loss, a first in 10 years, Ganguly said: “Well, budget means cost cutting.”

“There’s also a proposal to appoint an independent auditor from next fiscal,” Ganguly added.

On the appointment of a new coach for Bengal senior side, Ganguly said: “I’ve spoken to Manoj (Tiwary) and (Laxmi Ratan) Shukla and we will take a decision soon. We don’t want to rush things.”

According to a senior CAB member, the question was raised in the working committee by senior politician duo of Subrata Mukherjee and Subrata Bakshi.

“But before it could get stormy, Ganguly brought everything under control and everyone agreed that the transport and all the spending from now on would be monitored,” the CAB member said.

To get a CAB transport, an official now have to procure a requisition slip signed by the assistant secretary, he added.

The CAB has come severe criticism after the loss was made public following the last week’s financial committee meeting.

Senior financial committee member Hironmoy Chatterjee, who is also an All India Tennis Association official and BTA secretary, had earlier claimed that CAB office bearers used official transport for personal purposes, incurring a debt of Rs 3 crore.

Chatterjee also revealed that CAB had gifted expensive tablets to all the 121 affiliated members and spent lavishly on refreshments.