From COVID-19 disruptions to allegations that he has tried to affect selectors to criticize that not sufficient has been finished for girls’s cricket throughout his tenure, Sourav Ganguly has endured a difficult 26 months as BCCI president. has ended.
But in an interview with PTI, the previous India captain not solely rubbished the allegations leveled in opposition to him, but in addition supplied a mild reminder to his critics – lengthy earlier than he grew to become the BCCI boss, he was a well known cricketer from India and He performed 424 worldwide matches. Test 113 of them.
Away from the drama surrounding the top of Virat Kohli’s captaincy stint, Ganguly answered questions on different delicate points such because the lately introduced resumption of the Ranji Trophy in two phases, with India’s new Test captain nonetheless awaited. Decision and begin of the ladies’s group. IPL.
He additionally revealed that this month’s India-West Indies T20I in Kolkata shall be a “closed-doors” affair and was fueled by speculations of a attainable rift with board secretary Jay Shah.
Excerpts:
Question: There have been allegations that you’ve got been influencing the choice committee and also you sit in conferences to place strain on the selectors?
A: I do not assume I (on this) want anybody to reply something and honor any of those baseless allegations. I’m the President of BCCI and I do what the President of BCCI ought to do. Also, let me inform you, I’ve seen an image doing rounds (of social media) by which I’m proven sitting within the choice committee assembly. I want to make clear that the image (the place Ganguly might be seen sitting with Secretary Jay Shah, Captain Virat Kohli and Joint Secretary Jayesh George) was not of the choice committee assembly.
Jayesh George will not be part of the choice committee conferences. (I’ve performed) 424 worldwide matches for India. It’s typically not a nasty thought to remind folks about it, is it? (laughs)
Q: How has been your working relationship with Jay Shah on the Indian Cricket Board over the past 26 months?
A: I’ve a beautiful relationship with Jay. He is a really expensive pal and a trusted colleague. Me, Jai, Arun (Dhumal) and Jayesh (George), all of us have been working collectively to maneuver the board ahead in these two years particularly on this troublesome time with COVID-19. To be certain that cricket occurs. I’d say it has been a beautiful two years. We have all finished it as a group.
Q: What form of new Test captain are you trying ahead to following Virat Kohli’s determination to step down?
A: Obviously, there are specific requirements of management and whoever suits the invoice would be the subsequent Indian Test captain. I consider the selectors can have a reputation of their thoughts and they’re going to talk about it with the workplace bearers – the president and the secretary – and it will likely be introduced when the time comes.
Q: You stated lately that Rahane and Pujara will play Ranji Trophy. But does this imply that he might be dropped for the Sri Lanka Test, though it has now been prolonged until March?
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
A: What I meant was that they might play Ranji Trophy as a result of it will begin earlier than the Sri Lanka collection. After that the selectors will take a choice. The Ranji Trophy Elite Group will start within the third week of February and the Sri Lanka Test shall be held in March. It will utterly rely upon the choice committee and no matter determination they take.
Q: When can we see somebody like Hardik Pandya again in India? At least trying on the choices obtainable proper now, is not the group feeling Hardik’s absence?
A: Hardik was injured and was given a break to completely recuperate, in order that he might serve Indian cricket for a very long time. I’m positive I’ll see him play some Ranji Trophy at first.
India’s Hardik Pandya was dissatisfied. (Reuters)
I hope he bowls extra overs and his physique will get stronger. Also, he’s now the captain of the Ahmedabad IPL and this shall be a platform the place the selectors will test his kind and health. Accordingly, they may make a name.
Q: Let’s discuss Ranji Trophy. The BCCI is lastly rolling it out, however even after elevating the match payment to Rs 2.4 lakh per sport for a sure bracket, most groups play solely three first-class video games. Isn’t this a problem for monetary loss and for all stakeholders?
A: He has additionally performed Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali the place the match cash has elevated. You have to know that after discussing with the medical group, it was determined to place 4 groups in a bunch in a specific metropolis as this was the one means we might probably preserve the sanctity of the bio-bubble within the COVID occasions .
The variety of extra individuals in a specific place will enhance the speed of an infection. So there are extra venues and fewer groups. The timeline, as we postponed the begin to mid-January as a result of spike in circumstances, was additionally an element. We need to have U-25, U-19 knock-outs, ladies’s T20.
(consultant picture)
IPL and Women’s T20 is a problem. Many first-class gamers shall be a part of IPL groups. So it is a mixture of every little thing. BCCI would by no means need its first-class gamers to undergo.
Q: Why is BCCI not beginning the Women’s IPL instantly? Why once more a T20 problem when a state unit like CAB has a six-team 90-player ladies’s T20 membership assembly?
A: We are in full fledged WIPL manufacturing stage. It’s undoubtedly going to occur. I firmly consider that subsequent yr i.e. 2023 shall be an excellent time to start out a full ladies’s IPL which shall be as massive and grand success as males’s IPL.
Question: Hopefully IPL is being organized in India. How massive a reduction would this be?
A: Well, as BCCI has at all times stated it’s the Indian Premier League and we’d ideally prefer to host it in India. Yes, we’ve not introduced but formally as we’re nonetheless monitoring the state of affairs of COVID-19 within the nation. Yes, we are going to finalize the places in a while. There are a whole lot of plans to have it in India and we’re getting ready accordingly.
Question: Any particular celebrations for India’s one thousandth ODI in opposition to West Indies on Sunday?
A: No, there’s nothing like every little thing being put in a bubble. We have to keep up the COVID-19 protocol, so sure elaborate celebrations won’t be attainable and matches are being held closed doorways in any case.
Question: The state authorities has allowed 75 % spectators on the Eden Gardens for 3 T20 Internationals. But is the BCCI not cautious contemplating Motera’s ODI matches?
A: I preserve it on document. We usually are not permitting spectators on the Eden Gardens for 3 T20 Internationals. There shall be no ticket for basic public. Only cab officers and representatives of varied items have been allowed.
At such occasions, we can not put the well being of the gamers in danger by permitting spectators. No ticket shall be issued for Stand of Life or Associate Members. Obviously, we’ve the West Bengal authorities’s approval however BCCI does not wish to threat the well being safety of the gamers.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
