Mumbai: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly and member of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee has lashed out at Ravi Shastri’s recent comments after the latter was snubbed for Team India’s head coach post.
Speaking to a news channel, Shastri said he was disappointed and felt disrespected by Ganguly's behaviour. He also advised the CAB President not to repeat such things in the future.
"Nothing surprises me in Indian cricket anymore. A member of the committee (Ganguly) wasn't present and that was disrespectful to the selection process," Shastri had said.
Read: Respect your job: Ravi Shastri to Sourav Ganguly
Responding to the comments, Ganguly said he was surprised by Shastri's comments, adding that the former Team Director is living in a fool's world.
I am extremely surprised and saddened by the comments of Ravi Shastri. It was already previously decided that I will attend the CAB working committee meeting on the day of these coach elections," Ganguly said.
"I just feel his (Shastri) comments are very personal. It angers me that he gave a suggestion that I should be available for such meetings. I have been a part of BCCI meetings for some time and I have always been available.
Taking a dig at Shastri's casual approach, Ganguly said that the former Team Director could have been present in person "especially when one of India's greatest cricketers of all time spoke for two hours. I am hurt because of personal attacks.
"I read in a couple of newspapers and chose to ignore it. I am extremely saddened that he went on air to express his view specially someone who has been in every BCCI committee for the last 20 years. He has been in my position for selecting the coach 10 years back. He is aware of everything. I informed BCCI on June 19th and I have got official mails. I will circulate those mails once I get a clearance from BCCI," Ganguly said.
"If Ravi thinks because of me that he is not the coach of Team India, then he is living in a fool's world. Ravi has made a personal attack which was not expected and is very saddening.
I say this with anger that my counter piece of advise to Shastri is that he should have been present physically and not holidaying in Bangkok for such an important event. Ravi should have shown some more maturity before going public about it," Ganguly added.
