The controversy over the selection of Indian cricket team head coach took a new turn on Wednesday with Sourav Ganguly telling Ravi Shastri he was “living in a fool’s paradise” if he thought the former was responsible for his not getting the job.
Shastri, team director until March, criticised former India skipper Ganguly for not being present when he made his presentation to the BCCI’s cricket advisory committee that made the final selection. His comments came after the board unveiled former great Anil Kumble as the new coach.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ganguly rebutted what he called Shastri’s “personal and professional” allegations, saying he was “very disappointed and hurt at Shastri’s conduct after being rejected as head coach”.
Shastri talking to The Indian Express has said how Ganguly — part of the cricket advisory committee tasked with selecting the coach — wasn’t present when he was being interviewed via a video link from Bangkok last week. Shastri subsequently accused Ganguly of being “disrespectful” to the coach selection process.
Ganguly clarified he had informed the BCCI well in advance that he would be attending the Cricket Association of Bengal’s (CAB) working committee meeting between 5 and 6.30pm on June 21 and was granted permission. It was decided the committee would continue with the interview process during his absence.
“If he (Shastri) has advised me to attend such meetings, he should also make sure that he was here. It’s one of the most high-profile jobs in the country. We can understand family commitments. We can understand emergencies, but not holidays on the beach in Bangkok. He should have been here,” said the former India captain
