Sourav Ganguly expressed his concerns over the ongoing situations in Indian cricket. (Source: File)
Sourav Ganguly has expressed “deep sense of fear” over the present state of affairs in Indian cricket, administration-wise. In an email to BCCI office-bearers – acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry – the former India captain, who now helms the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), observed that reports of alleged sexual harassment involving chief executive Rahul Johri have hurt the board’s image.
“I write this mail to you all with the deep sense of fear as to where Indian cricket administration is going… Having played the game for a long period of time, our lives were ruled by winning and losing, and the image of Indian cricket was of paramount importance to us. We wake up looking at how our cricket is faring even now…” reads the mail.
The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has formed a three-member independent committee to inquire into the allegations against Johri, which relate to a period before he was employed with the BCCI, and submit its report within 15 days. This is despite the fact that CoA member Diana Edulji wanted Johri suspended, arguing that his presence in the BCCI office and other premises will make woman employees and players uncomfortable. Subsequently, another allegation of sexual harassment, this one pertaining to Johri’s tenure with the Board, has come out.
The whole episode exposed the discord between the two remaining members of the Committee, and Ganguly now has made his displeasure felt over the way the issue has been handled. “I don’t know how far it’s true, but the recent reports of harassment has (sic) really made the BCCI look very poorly…. more so the way it has been handled… The committee of COA from four has come down to two and now the two seem to be divided,” he wrote in his email, adding: “… with deep sense of worry, I beg to state that the way things have gone in the last couple of years, the authority of Indian cricket in the world and the love and belief of millions of fans is on the way down…”
The ex-skipper also took exception to the CoA’s decision to change the domicile rule mid-season to allow wards of government servants to play for their adopted states without adhering to the one-year clause. “Cricketing rules are changed in the middle of a season, which has never been heard of…”
Ganguly headed the BCCI technical committee before the CoA registered the new constitution and dissolved all cricket board committees and sub-committees save the selection panel and the Cricket Advisory Committee.
According to Ganguly, Indian cricket is in “danger”. “Indian cricket, with its massive following, has been built over the years of hard work from superb administrators and greatest of cricketers who have managed to bring thousands of fans to the ground… I at the present moment, think it’s in danger… Hope people are listening…” he concluded.