Sourav Ganguly expressed his concerns over the ongoing situations in Indian cricket. (Source: File)

Sourav Ganguly has expressed his “deep sense of fear” over the present state of affairs in Indian cricket, administration-wise. In an email to the 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), has spoken about his “appalling” experience with regard to the selection of the Indian team head coach last year. He also observed that reports of alleged sexual harassment, involving the cricket board chief executive Rahul Johri, has negatively affected the BCCI’s image. Ganguly has also spoken about the Indian cricket losing its authority on the global stage over the past couple of years.

“… decisions made in committees are turned around with complete disrespect, my experience in the matter of coach selection was appalling (the less said the better),” Ganguly wrote in his email. He started off, saying: “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…”

Ganguly still seems to be carrying the scars of the Indian team head coach appointment fiasco last year. He, along with Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, the three members of the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), had been tasked with picking Anil Kumble’s successor after the Champions Trophy in England in June 2017. Kumble had stepped down as the head coach following a fall out with skipper Virat Kohli. Ravi Shastri eventually replaced him despite the fact that Ganguly was reportedly against his appointment. In fact, ahead of the selection process, a BCCI functionary had approached Virender Sehwag and convinced him to throw his hat into the ring. The former India opener appeared before the panel for an interview, while Shastri gave a Skype appearance. But the latter got the nod.

The CAC had also recommended the inclusion of Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan in the coaching set-up as batting and bowling consultants respectively, especially for tough overseas tours. But Shastri insisted upon having his own coaching staff and brought back Bharat Arun as the bowling coach, while Sanjay Bangar stayed as the assistant coach. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) headed by Vinod Rai backed Shastri’s choice. In eight overseas Tests in South Africa and England this year, India have lost six and won two.

In 2016 also, Ganguly and Shastri had a public spat after Kumble became the head coach. Ganguly had rejected Shastri’s candidature then, as he didn’t appear for the interview in person. The former India allrounder had hit out at Ganguly, citing his absence for one hour during the interview process.

Returning to the present, the CoA has formed a three-member independent committee to inquire into the allegations against Johri and submit its report within 15 days. This is despite the fact that CoA member Diana Edulji wanted Johri out. The whole episode showed signs of discord between the two members of the Committee, and Ganguly now has made his displeasure felt over the way the issue has had 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 seems to be divided,” he wrote in his email, adding: “… with deep sense of worry, (I used the word worry), I beg to state that the way things have gone in the last couple of years, the authority of Indian cricket to 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 the wards of the 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 committees and the CAC.

According to Ganguly, the 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.