There seems to be a silent-war running between the former team India Director Ravi Shastri and member of the Cricket Advisory Committee Saurav Ganguly, as the duo continued to make indirect comments against each other in connection to the methodology followed in selecting the team India’s head coach. On Sunday, Ganguly had officially confirmed that the committee has offered Shastri to take the role of batting coach for the Indian team and added that he or any of the members of the committee had no special interests on Anil Kumble or any other applicant for the post of team India’s head coach.
“So many speculations are running all over the media over this. Yes, we have offered him (Ravi Shastri) to be the batting coach”, Ganguly was quoted as saying by Mid-day.
The duo have been seen getting into a battle of words at several occasions, with comments directing towards each other. Shastri had openly criticized Ganguly for his ‘disrespectful’ nature, citing his absence during the interview. Sources said that Ganguly had another meeting with the members of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and was forced to leave just before Ravi Shastri’s presentation.
Clarifying to the allegations, Ganguly said, ” First he should have been present at the interview venue and not holidaying in Bangkok. I had no enmity against any one in the cricket world and would always prefer to be like that. I have informed all the applicants and the committee members well in advance of my absence on the day of interview. Some times we have to choose between two important meetings and the same has happened there”.
The former captain also reiterated that the members of the committee had no say in the selection of the assistant coaches by Anil Kumble. “We have nothing to do with the appointments of the support staff. All the assistant coaches are appointed by Anil Kumble himself and i would like to clarify that the CAC made no recommendations in this regard”.
Also, there were rumors that Anil kumble will be appointing Zaheer khan as the fast-bowling coach to assist him.