New Delhi: Indian Premier League chairman Rajeev Shukla on Thursday asked former India cricketers Sourav Ganguly and Ravi Shastri to restrain in the wake of latter’s snub for the post Team India head coach.
Shukla took to his Twitter handle asking the duo to calm down and respect BCCI’s decision.
Both Ravi and Saurav should adopt restrain while reacting against each other & respect the decision taken by BCCI
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) June 30, 2016
Contribution of Saurav and Ravi to Indian cricket is immense and both enjoy wonderful reputation
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) June 30, 2016
Following Cricket Advisory Committee’s suggestion, BCCI decided to pick Anil Kumble as Indian cricket team’s head coach. While Shastri – former Team India director - initially was a frontrunner for the post, CAC backed Kumble for the post.
The snub did not go down well with Shastri and he lashed out against Ganguly who was absent when the former was interviewed via video call.
Shastri had said: I am just disappointed. Nothing surprises me in cricket. It's nothing to do with Sourav, but I am disappointed because that the person was disrespectful of the candidate who was going to be interviewed and disrespectful of the job he was entrusted to do."
Ganguly, who did not take Shastri’s comments kindly, hit back at him, saying, "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.”
"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.
