KOLKATA: Sourav Ganguly, a member of the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), expressed the helplessness of the panel in resolving the spat between the Indian coach and captain. Back in the city after his television commentary stint in the Champions Trophy in England, Ganguly said “he (Anil Kumble) took the decision (to move on) at the very last moment.”
The CAC, which includes Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav, met both Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli separately in London in a bid to resolve the issues between the two, but failed in their endeavor. “All I can say is that it was Kumble’s personal decision to quit the post. We could not do much about it,” Sourav said.
It may be recalled that the CAC had interviewed several candidates last year, including Kumble before handing over the Indian team’s reins to him even though it was no secret that Kohli wanted Ravi Shastri to continue.
Asked whether the CAC members had sensed Kohli’s opposition to Kumble’s candidature last year, Ganguly said: “There’s no point discussing all that. It’s over now.”
The CAC is waiting for fresh directives from the BCCI on the process to be followed for choosing Kumble’s replacement. “We will follow the process while deciding on the next coach,” he said, adding that the CAC was not aware whether the BCCI will invite more applications for the post in the changed scenario. The CAC is also not aware of any deadline for the new appointment, Sourav added.
Ganguly, however, is optimistic that India will do well in the ODI series against the West Indies that gets under way in Port of Spain on Friday. “It’s not that the team is without a coach there. (Sanjay) Bangar is there. I don’t think that will be a problem,” he said.