Sourav Ganguly Loses Z-Category Security As West Bengal Govt Reviews Protection Cover

The newly formed BJP government in West Bengal downgraded the security cover of former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly from the Z-category to the Y-category as part of a routine review of threat perceptions for prominent personalities in the state. Officials from the West Bengal Police security wing said the move was part of an ongoing exercise to reassess security arrangements based on updated threat assessments.

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Under the revised arrangement, Sourav Ganguly will now be provided with three to four security personnel instead of the nine to 10 officers deployed under the Z-category cover granted by the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in 2023.

Why Was

Sourav Ganguly’s Security Downgraded?

According to police officials, the reduction in security cover follows a standard review process carried out periodically for individuals receiving state protection. Authorities maintained that the decision was based on threat perception assessments and was not targeted at any specific individual. The BJP government has undertaken similar reviews for several political leaders and public figures since assuming office in West Bengal.

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What Was Sourav Ganguly’s Existing Security Cover?

Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers and a former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was accorded Z-category security by the TMC government in 2023. The category provided him with a significantly larger security detail comprising nearly 10 personnel. With the downgrade to Y-category, the number of personnel assigned to his protection is expected to be reduced considerably.

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The former India captain became president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) in 2015 and has continued in the role after being re-elected in subsequent terms, including in 2019 and 2025.