CHENNAI: The spat that erupted between Ravi Shastri and Sourav Ganguly after the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) chose Anil Kumble as head coach of Team India last year seems to be continuing. It is reliably learnt that Ganguly, during the interview process on Monday, had a heated argument with Ravi Shastri with regard to the support staff he will be given, should he get the job.
New Indian Express understands that Sourav Ganguly told Ravi Shastri that he won't be given his choice of support staff, and instead wanted former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan as bowling coach. However, Ravi Shastri seems to have informed Sourav Ganguly and the other two members of the CAC -- Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman -- that his pick would be Bharathi Arun, who was bowling coach during 2014-2016.
It is also understood that Sourav Ganguly had a word with Virat Kohli on having Zaheer Khan on board, but the Indian captain didn't seem particularly keen and instead was okay to have him as a consultant on a temporary basis. He cited his bowlers' preference for Bharathi Arun.
Ravi Shastri, who is said to be the frontrunner for the post, is understood to have made a presentation with the 2019 World Cup in mind emphasizing the need to have a bigger pool of players and rotating the bowlers.
"Ravi's presentation covered all bases. There were a lot of questions directed at him by Sourav Ganguly in particular and he had an answer for everything," sources in the know told New Indian Express.
It is still not clear who is Laxman's choice as the former India batsman has a good rapport with Tom Moody, thanks to their stints with the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sachin Tendulkar, as last year, is keen on having fellow Mumbaikar Shastri on board.
And with Sourav Ganguly keen on having Tom Moody, it could once again come down to Laxman to break the deadlock, as he did the last time out by picking Kumble.
Sachin Tendulkar is said to have got annoyed with Ganguly for dilating the decision. It is reliably learnt that Tendulkar even managed to convince Laxman at one point and wanted BCCI to name Shastri as coach on Monday itself. However, Ganguly stood his ground.
"Even Johri has told the panel that the team wants Shastri. But Ganguly still doesn’t seem to have moved on from the last year's episode with Ravi. It seems to be getting personal, and barring a miracle, Moody won’t get the job," sources privy to the process said.
The Committee of Administrators stepped in Tuesday morning, directing BCCI to take the decision by this evening. It is understood that it was Tendulkar who urged CoA to take the call, although New Indian Express couldn’t independently verify this.
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