Disappointment at losing out on the job of coach: Shastri

Ravi Shastri, the former team director of the Indian cricket team, has expressed his disappointment at losing out on the job of coach of the national side. Shastri, who had served as the team director for more than 18 months, added that Sourav Ganguly, one of the members of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), tasked to select the coach of the Indian cricket team, was absent when during his interview for the top post.

Shastri, who was in Thailand at the time of the interview, interacted with the CAC via a Skype conversation. VVS Laxman, one of the committee members, and Sanjay Jagdale, the chief coordinator of CAC, were present in Mumbai while Sachin Tendulkar, the other member of CAC, also used Skype during the interview as he was present in London. But the third member of CAC, Ganguly, was absent during the meeting as he had to attending a Cricket Association of Bengal meeting.

“Well, actually he wasn’t there,” Shastri told Indian Express, when asked about his meeting with Ganguly. The former director went on to add that his interaction with the rest of the CAC members proceeded smoothly. “(The) meeting was great. Some great questions from VVS, Sachin and Sanjay. I put my way forward for the team. They wanted to know how do I plan to do well in all formats, how we should look at fast bowlers, and things of that sort.”

“I was very disappointed. Disappointment because the hard work the entire unit had put in in the last 18 months. To see where they were when the support staff and I took over and to where they reached in 18 months makes me feel proud. They got up, threw punches and ended up where they were. No. 1 in Test cricket, No. 1 in T20, No. 2 in ODI. You can’t ask for more. Even I didn’t expect such a transformation in 18 months with this young team. I feel really proud,” Shastri said.

“I was honest, worked hard along with the support staff, and the players were fantastic. During those months, with the BCCI being hammered in the court and media for various reasons, cricket was the shining light. People really took to watching the way the Indian team was playing,” he added.

Shastri, meanwhile, wished Kumble luck and is hopeful that the Indian team will grow from strength to strength. “I think Anil inherited a damn good team, a fantastic team in all formats. And his job would be to take it forward. I am proud of the boys and I would miss their company because I will treasure the joy and enjoyment they gave me in those 18 months. I am always there for them. That’s how I was even in the 23 years of broadcasting career. They know that.”

 

SOURCE: PTI