Shastri-Ganguly row disappoints and upsets Arun Lal

Arun Lal has been through quite a lot in cricket and life. Having played 16 Test matches for his country, Lal has also recently been a victim of cancer, something he has successfully recovered from in recent weeks. However, when it came to the row between Ravi Shastri and former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, he was clearly upset with how things developed.

Shastri had earlier attacked Ganguly as the latter had not been present during his interview. Bishan Singh Bedi also resonated the same. “Nothing surprises me in Indian cricket anymore. A member of the committee (Ganguly) wasn`t present and that was disrespectful to the selection process,” Shastri had told media.

“A person was disrespectful of a candidate who he was going to interview. He was disrespectful to the job he was entrusted with.”

However, Ganguly also provided a rebuttal stating that Shastri should have been present in person. “I also have an advice for Shastri, when the coach of India is selected, which is one of the high-profile jobs, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on a holiday and make a presentation on camera. We can understand family commitments, understand emergencies, but not holidays on the beach,” Ganguly had said.

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Lal however, refrained from taking any sides. “Actually, it’s not for me to comment. Sometimes how words are written does not have the same spirit of how they are said. I know both of them really well and I am grateful to both have major contributions in my life, but it is a little disappointing,” Lal told the media here at the Calcutta Sports Journalist Club on the occasion of Worlds Sports Journalist Day.

“Sometimes you get carried away with emotions when you say something and it sounds terrible when written down, I think I will give them a benefit of the doubt.”Both of them have made huge contributions to Indian cricket,” said the 60-year-old who featured in 16 Tests for India.

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