BCCI categorically said that I could make myself available on Skype: Ravi Shastri

The dust-up between Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly extended by one more round after Shastri clarified Ganguly’s ‘Holiday’ remarks. Both former cricketers have been involved in an unnecessary war of words since the past couple of weeks. Ravi Shastri openly spoke about Sourav Ganguly’s absence from the interview panel when the former gave his interview from Bangkok.

Shastri, who is back in Mumbai, spoke to ETPanache and clarified that he was communicated about his interview date pretty late.

“I got communication from the BCCI on the 19th (June) that the interview is on the 21st. I had left for Thailand on the 15th. No one knew at that time when the interview would be. And their mail categorically said that since it (the interview call) is at short notice I could make myself available on Skype at a particular time,” said Shastri.

Shastri further clarified that BCCI had given him the option to get interviewed over Skype. Though he agrees ideally a candidate should have been present. He added, “I was out of the country and the BCCI did give me the option of Skype. Besides, Tom Moody and some other candidates did the interview on Skype. What’s the difference? In this day and age, half the world operates on video-conferencing.”

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The former Team Director continues to enjoy his holidays, now in Mumbai, says that he has moved on with the rejection but clarified that he was disappointed with Ganguly’s absence during the interview.

“At least the people who are on the committee should be there (for the interview). One, as a respect to the guy being interviewed and two, to the job you’ve been given,” he said.

The fracas between two of the most influential names of Indian cricket after Shastri openly expressed his disappointment regarding Sourav Ganguly’s absence from the interview process. Ganguly along with Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman formed the cricket advisory committee which reviewed and interviewed the potential candidates for Team India’s head coach role.

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Initially, Shastri, who served Team India as the Director for almost close to two years, was not selected as Indian coach was the front-runner to clinch the job but equation soon changed after Anil Kumble entered the race. Eventually, Kumble pipped Shastri to win the race. Though Shastri congratulated the new coach Anil Kumble, he openly expressed his disappointment by letting the world know of Ganguly’s unavailability at the time he was being interviewed.

The former Mumbai all-rounder had earlier advised Ganguly to be present for such important assignments in future and as a part of counter advice, the Bengal tiger roared, “When the coach of India is selected and it is one of the most important jobs in cricket, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on holiday and make a presentation on camera, especially when someone who is one of the greatest cricketers of India [of] all-time spoke for two hours nearly, Anil Kumble.”