Bishan Bedi lambasts BCCI for replacing Kumble with Ganguly

Anil Kumble was replaced by Sourav Ganguly as technical committee chief due to his association with IPL franchise Mumbai Indians where he is chief mentor; Bedi calls it 'politicisation of the game of cricket'

Former India spin great Bishan Singh Bedi was disappointed at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to end former India skipper Anil Kumble's term as the technical committee chief due to a conflict of interest issue.

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Bishan Singh Bedi

Kumble was replaced by Sourav Ganguly due to his association with Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians where he is chief mentor. When asked to specify the conflict of interest with regards to Kumble, BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said: "He is still with Mumbai Indians, right? There is a change in the committee every year.

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We have changed Roger Binny because we didn't want to take the slightest chance. Anil Kumble was there earlier also, for a good number of years. He has been in the ICC (International Cricket Council) also."

Confusing
Bedi, who was the cricket manager when Kumble made his Test debut in the English summer of 1990, told mid-day: "It is actually quite confusing. Anil can be the cricket committee chief at the ICC, but cannot be in the same role at the BCCI. How can that happen?


Anil Kumble. Pic/Getty Images

"This is basically politicisation of the game. It is a political lassi in which they (BCCI) are trying to extract makhan (butter), which is not there. We are getting the same people (on committees) again and again," said Bedi in reference to the appointment of Ganguly as the new technical committee chief.

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Meanwhile, Ganguly was excited to head the panel again. "I have done this before so it will be exciting," said Ganguly, who has also been retained in the IPL Governing Council which has been pruned to five members (Rajeev Shukla, Ajay Shirke, MP Pandove, Joytiraditya Scindia and Ganguly) from 13.


Sourav Ganguly

When asked if Ganguly was asked to choose between television commentary and BCCI posts, BCCI president Shashank Manohar said: "He is not doing commentary, but he can pursue whatever profession he wants.

The conflict would arise if he has a commercial interest in the Board. We can't stop him from pursuing his profession. I am a lawyer and I can't be told not to practise."

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