Selection Process Hurts Sourav Ganguly 24 hours after Ravi Shashtri revealed that he felt disrespected by Sourav Ganguly’s absence at his interview for the opening of Indian cricket coach, Ganguly has opened up about his emotions. Ganguly is “very saddened” by this “personal attack”.
Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sanjay Jagdale (ex-BCCI secretary) along with Ganguly formed the panel which was in charge of finding a successor for Shastri as the India’s cricket coach. Shastri has been filling in since the past 18 months. His stint ended after the T20 World Cup in March, 2016. The panel reviewed numerouscandidates like Shastri and finally decided that Anil Kumble should be the next coach.
All was fine until Shastri opened up about Ganguly’s absence at his interview. He felt Ganguly disrespected him as well as the job he was responsible for. Ganguly’s absence during Shastri’s interview was due to his prior commitments as the President of Cricket Association of Bengal. Ganguly felt confident that the selection process was left in capable hands.I just feel that the comments are very personal and if Ravi Shastri feels that I am responsible for him not being the coach of India, he's living in a fool's world," Ganguly told journalists in Kolkata. "It's a committee and there are people in the committee who are of more repute than I am and there are other people involved also who were consulted and spoken about. So that's disappointing. "I am extremely saddened when he went on air, expressing his views, especially from someone who has been in every BCCI committee for the last 20 years. He has beenin my position, you know, the position to select the coach. I don't think he's aware of everything. "I had informed the BCCI on the 19th of June in an official mail that I will have to leave at 5 o' clock because the CAB working committee meeting was supposed to happen that day and being the president of the association, I'm supposed to chair the meeting”, said Ganguly. Ravi Shastri’s interview was scheduled for 4:15 pm but got delayed due to other interview running beyond their allotted time.
As a response to Shastri’s advice on the importance of the position, Ganguly said “Since he's spoken about disrespect, and honestly I say this with anger, that he gave me a suggestion that in the future that I should be available for such meetings. I've been part of the BCCI for a while now and I make sure I'm available for such meetings. "I have an advice for him also, when the coach of India is selected and it's one of the most important jobs in cricket, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on holiday and make a presentation on camera (Skype) especially when someone, (Anil Kumble) who is one of the greatest cricketers of India all time, spoke for nearly two hours.”
