Former India captain Sourav Ganguly opined that Ravi Shastri is doing a good job as team director and there is no need for a coach to come in.
“At present, he (Shastri) has been asked to continue as team director by the board till at least the Sri lanka tour. Even Anurag Thakur (BCCI general secretary) has said in an interview that after the lanka tour, we will sit and find out if we need a coach. Because we have enough people (support staff) in the team. Ravi is the director of the team and I don’t see any difference between a director and a coach,” Ganguly, who is also a member of the BCCI advisory committe, said on the sidelines of an event organised by Apollo Health Insurance to create awareness about dengue on Tuesday.
He also stated that with the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for two years, the IPl should stick to eight teams and more if it comes to it in the future. “...eight-team IPl is absolutely necessary because of the commitments made to the franchises and the broadcasters. And... we can play with ten teams. That has happened in the past when Sahara (Pune Warriors) and Kochi (Tuskers Kerala) franchise played. I don’t see this as too much of an issue,” he said.
Former India captain also backed BCCI in their stance on not resuming bi-lateral ties with Pakistan until acts of terror stopped. The cricket boards of the two countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to play five series in eight years till 2023. BCCI had promised to take up the discussion with the Indian government but the Gurdaspur terror attack on Monday prompted Thakur to declare that cricket will have to take the backseat for now.
“I think BCCI is correct in saying that terror will have to completely go before play could happen. Because as human beings we also want terror to completely go. So this has always been the case with an India-Pakistan series. As much as we understand that it is entertaining and it is a high-profile series, we cannot take away the sufferings which the people go through at the border especially after what happened in Gurdaspur,” said the 43-year-old.
Ganguly also called for BCCI to give relief to S Sreesanth after he was exonerated on MCOCA charges by a Delhi court. Sreesanth continues to serve a life ban handed by BCCI for spotfixing charges in 2013.
“The BCCI gives an opportunity to every player to come back and play and I think a dialogue would happen between BCCI and Sreesanth. If the board in some months feels that the clearance from the Delhi court is fine, I am sure it will make way for him to come back and play cricket,” Ganguly said.
With 35-year-old Harbhajan Singh and 32-year-old Amit Mishra getting picked for the lanka tour, there were questions raised on the lack of young spinners which Ganguly rubbished citing examples Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. He also clarified that Bhajji and Mishra have been included because of their performances.
“Why don’t you want your senior players playingIJ It’s about who is good and who is capable,” he concluded.