Sourav Ganguly, one of the members of Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) advisory committee, has retorted to Ravi Shastri's criticism by noting that the former director of Indian cricket was 'living in a fool's paradise,' if he believed that one representative of the panel was responsible for him not taking over the mantle of coaching the national set-up. Shastri was overlooked in favour of Anil Kumble for the post of India's head coach by the panel, consisting of VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly.
"If Shastri believes that I am responsible for him not being the coach, then he is mistaken. To imagine that I am responsible for him not being coach is living in a fool's paradise. There were far bigger names in the committee than Sourav Ganguly," Ganguly said on Wednesday (June 29).
Shastri had earlier expressed his disappointment by stating that Ganguly was absent at the time of his meeting. "If he was present, he would have asked some questions. I wish he was there," the former Indian all-rounder was quoted as saying by the Mumbai Mirror.
Ganguly, who is also the president of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), had to address a working committee meeting of the state board and was hence, unavailable during Shastri's video conference interview. On his part, Ganguly said that he couldn't ignore Shastri's barbs anymore and slammed the former national skipper for his statements.
"Be present for meetings in person. He should not have been holidaying in Bangkok when another former cricketer gave an hour-long presentation. I have seen that (Shastri's interview) on TV and I was reading about it in the newspapers.
"Thought I would not react to it but it just went on and on. I will make available the emails and contacts I made with the BCCI. He does not know the full facts of the event. I'm deeply saddened and disappointed with his remarks," Ganguly summed up.
© Cricbuzz
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