New Delhi: Former Indian team skipper Sourav Ganguly today said that he “was hurt and saddened” by Ravi Shastri's personal comments on him after the BCCI’s powerful Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) appointed Anil Kumble as the head coach of Team India.
Ganguly said that the decision about Team India’s next coach was taken collectively by the members of Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) of which Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sanjay Jagdale were also the members.
"I am deeply saddened, disappointed. He should have shown a bit more maturity. These comments are very personal," Ganguly told reporters.
The CAB also said that the former team director was living in a "fool's world" if he thinks “he isn't coach due to my absence”.
"If Shastri feels that I am responsible for him not being selected as the head coach, he is living in a fool's world," Ganguly added.
Shastri had yesterday lashed out at Ganguly for skipping his interview for Team India head coach, and accused the former skipper of being 'disrespectful'. The 54-year-old had said that he was disappointed because he had put in a lot of hard work during his 18-month stintas team’s director with the national squad and will not be there to take it forward.
Ganguly further said that “it is disappointing because being in such committees for more than 10 years, he (Shastri) should be aware”.
The CAB president, who was advised by Shastri to be present at such important meetings, also said that such important interviews are not given on camera. Shastri was not physically present during the interview process as he was on a vacation in Bangkok.
"I also have an advice for Shastri, when the coach of India is selected, which is one of the high profile jobs, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on a holiday and make a presentation on camera," Ganguly said.
"Specially when one of the greatest cricketers of India (Anil Kumble) sat for close to two hours for his presentation," Ganguly added.
Ganguly further congratulated Kumble and wished him the very best for his new stint.
"I wish him all the luck with the Indian team. He is one of the best in the world and has been a great cricketer," the southpaw said.
According to reports, the CAC had interviewed 21 candidates including Shastri before finalising Anil Kumble’s name. Former Australian players Tom Moody and Stuart Law, retired English first class cricketer Andy Moles and former Indian batsmen Lalchand Rajput and Pravin Amre were other names that were shortlisted by the powerful panel.
If reports are to be believed, Shastri was in pole position to win a stint as head coach until Kumble made a late entry. Reports say that Kumble was not even on the 21-man shortlist for the final interview by the Cricket Advisory Committee. However, it was former skipper Ganguly who pushed Kumble’s name and won the support of Tendulkar and Laxman which was later endorsed by BCCI president Anurag Thakur.
