Kolkata, June 28: Sourav Ganguly would have also applied for the head coach’s position of the Indian cricket team had he not been an administrator. The left-handed batsman also expressed unhappiness at the process implemented by the BCCI to appoint a new coach.
“I would have certainly put my hat for the position of head coach of the Indian cricket team had I not donned the coat of an administrator already,” Ganguly told reporters here.
Even though he did not voice his concerns openly about the process, Sourav is aggrieved at the way the last date of receiving applications has been extended to July 9. “Personally speaking, the BCCI could have handled the situation in a better way. That is my personal opinion though,” he pointed out.
As usual the topic turned to supposedly new ‘applicant’ Ravi Shastri. Ganguly made it clear that he is not one to dwell on the past. “Anybody can apply for the position, why Shastri alone,” Ganguly shot back. “Whoever may apply, all applications will be considered with the utmost of importance. I am not one to keep the past in mind. We (the Cricket Advisory Committee) will judge the capabilities of each and every applicant in the best possible manner.”
It should be mentioned here that Shastri had publicly blamed Ganguly after losing out on the coach’s position to Anil Kumble last year. But Ganguly categorically stated, “The CAC will assess who is the best possible man to coach the Indian team and then accordingly inform the BCCI.”
Shastri, however, has already emerged a frontrunner for the post because he has the backing of skipper Virat Kohli. Also the Vinod Rai-led committee of administrators (CoA) is of the opinion that the coach has to be a person who Kohli likes. Agencies
