Ravi Shastri's right undermined by appointing Zaheer Khan, Rahul Dravid: COA

Mumbai: As wishes poured from the cricket fraternity for Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan for being hired as the batting and bowling coach respectively for the Indian cricket team, the announcement of India’s former stars has sparked debate in the media. 

While the SC-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) welcomed the Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC) decision to rope in Ravi Shastri as the new Indian coach, the CoA says the CAC exceeded its brief in their appointment. 

The CoA opines that the decision to select the support staff is the right of the head coach, which Shastri was deprived of and that the CAC should have considered the former team director on their appointment. A member of the CoA said the decision to rope in Zaheer and Dravid for the senior team will be reviewed by the committee meet in Mumbai on Saturday comprising of chairman Vinod Rai, Vikram Limaye, and Diana Eduljee. 

However, in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, CAC member Sourav Ganguly says that Ravi Shastri is comfortable about Rahul and Zaheer appointment and that the former team director had been informed about the decision. 

“The team required a bowling coach. So we appointed Zak. We felt he is the best candidate for the job. We needed to speak to Virat Kohli and Ravi on that. Once we decided that, we spoke to Ravi and explained to him that this is what we are looking at. We had to see if he is comfortable with that arrangement. I don't know what people think about all this. At 5' o clock we have the meeting and at 5.30 we announce? It doesn't happen like that. We had to cover up all ends. Then we had to see if the decision is right and then make the announcement. These things don't happen just like that,” said the former Indian captain.

When asked if Shastri was comfortable with the inclusion of the two Ganguly said, “Yeah, yeah, everyone is comfortable. That is why we wanted time. We wanted to speak to everyone and have everyone on the same page. That is exactly what I said at the meeting (press conference). The problem is that people keep jumping the gun. “

Shastri could have got a contract extension when he the job of a head coach's post last year, but was it was Anil Kumble who was selected for the post after his differences with Sourav Ganguly. However, it wasn’t meant to be as Kumble resigned from the job after he fell out of favour with Indian captain Virat Kohli.