Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly spoke a “deep sense of fear” over the current scenario in the administration in Indian cricket. He expressed his thoughts in an email to BCCI office-bearers Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry, recalling his “appalling” experience during the selection of the head coach of the Indian team last year.
Ganguly also put forward the fact that the recent reports of sexual harassment against CEO Rahul Johri have tampered the image of the BCCI adding that the authority Indian cricket had in the world is slowly slipping away.
“… decisions made in committees are turned around with complete disrespect, my experience in the matter of coach selection was appalling (the less said the better),” Ganguly wrote in his email. He started off, saying: “I write this mail to you all with the deep sense of fear as to where Indian cricket administration is going… Having played the game for a long period of time, our lives were ruled by winning and losing, and the image of Indian cricket was of paramount importance to us. We wake up looking at how our cricket is faring even now…” his letter read.
Last year, he along with former teammates Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman formed the Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI wherein the trio was handed the task of appointing the next Indian head coach after Anil Kumble’s resignation under controversial circumstances. Ravi Shastri, who appeared for the interview via Skype was chosen over former cricketer Virender Sehwag who was talked into applying for the job by a BCCI member.
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The Ganguly-led three-member panel also had put their weight behind the appointment of Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan as part of the coaching staff but it was purely on Shastri’s insistence that Bharat Arun eventually was named the bowling coach while Sanjay Bangar continued his stay as the batting consultant of the side. Although Shastri’s decisions carried the support of the Committee of Administrators behind them, the results tell a different story with India having competed in eight overseas Tests this year, out of which they have managed just two wins–rest all ended in defeats.
The current president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) also spoke about his unhappiness with the way the entire sexual harassment case against Rahul Johri is handled by the CoA.
“I don’t know how far it’s true, but the recent reports of harassment has (sic) really made the BCCI look very poorly…. more so the way it has been handled… The committee of COA from four has come down to two and now the two seems to be divided,” he wrote in his email, adding: “… with deep sense of worry, (I used the word worry), I beg to state that the way things have gone in the last couple of years, the authority of Indian cricket to the world and the love and belief of millions of fans is on the way down…” he wrote further in his letter.
Foreseeing a dangerous future for Indian cricket, Ganguly concluded, “Indian cricket with its massive following has been built over the years of hard work from superb administrators and greatest of cricketers who have managed to bring thousands of fans to the ground…
“I at the present moment, think it’s in danger… Hope people are listening,” he added.
Image credit-Hindustan Times