The controversy surrounding the Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly face-off over Team India's chief coach's post escalated on Wednesday with 'Dada' lashing out at the former Mumbai cricketer
Former Indian captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly has maintained a dignified silence despite being baited by former Team India Director Ravi Shastri repeatedly over the interview process for the post of the Indian coach.
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The interview process conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) that included Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Sanjay Jagdale overseeing the proceedings.
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Ganguly, one of the three members of the BCCI's Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), had absented himself when Shastri appeared for the interview, leaving the former Team India Director miffed.
Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar
After being overlooked for the job, Shastri had said Ganguly was disrespectful to him and the job he was entrusted with.
Ganguly, who had withdrawn from the interview during Shastri's presentation, hit back at the former Mumbai cricketer, saying that he should have been physically present for the interview instead of vacationing in Bangkok.
"He has given me an advice that next time when there is such meeting, I should be present. I say this with anger that my counter piece of advise to Shastri is that he should have been present physically and not holidaying in Bangkok for such an important event. When the coach of India is selected, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation. Ravi should have shown some more maturity before going public about it ," the former Bengal all-rounder said.
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Ganguly said that Shastri was living in a "fool's world" if he thought that he was responsible for the former Team Director being rejected.
Ganguly added that he was "surprised and saddened" at the personal attack and disappointed since the remarks had come from a person who's been a part of various BCCI committees for the last 20 years.
"If Ravi thinks because of me that he is not the coach of Team India, then he is living in a fool's world. There are people who are more reputed in the committee than I am," he said.
Ganguly said, "I am extremely saddened and disappointed by Ravi Shastri's comments...I was reading it in couple of newspapers in last three to four days but chose to ignore it. Especially from someone who has been in BCCI committee for the last 20 years."
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Kumble, meanwhile, graciously skirting the controversy surrounding the snub Ravi Shastri received during his job interview during a media interaction.
The newly-appointed Indian coach on Wednesday said it's the players who are the most significant part of the system and no one else.
Anil Kumble and Ravi Shastri
Kumble, speaking to media on his first day as coach, said neither he nor Shastri or any other official is as important as the players.
"I was the first one to call Ravi after chosen as the head coach. He did a wonderful job with the Indian team. And it's not about Ravi or me or anyone else. It's about the players, it's about the team," Kumble said during his first press conference as Team India coach.
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