Even Ganguly publicly expressed his willingness to enter the Bengal cricket administration.

'Ganguly has the right stature and background to match Dalmiya. He is better than any other candidate we can think of as Dalmiya's challenger. And he will not contest unless he feels he has a reasonable chance to win. The one year period gives him time to learn the ropes and interact with the 121 voters in the CAB,' the source said.

Meanwhile, Dalmiya said it was for Ganguly to decide whether he will involve himself with the CAB. 'If he wants to come, he is welcome.'

Dalmiya has held on to the CAB president's post since 1993 except for a 19-month break from end December 2006 to the middle of last year.

The former BCCI chief had stepped down from the CAB post towards 2006 end after being slapped with a ban by the BCCI then controlled by Sharad Pawar, but returned to power in 2008 by defeating then president Prasun Mukherjee.