Sourav Ganguly oversteps crease and rules to sit in selection meetings

Sourav Ganguly oversteps crease and rules to sit in selection meetings

WHERE DOES WRIDDHIMAN COME IN? When Saha expressed surprise at being left out of the Test team despite assurances from Sourav Ganguly; the Bengal wicketkeeper unwittingly drew attention to a new practice that is putting the cricket board’s governance; norms to the test the former India captain and current BCCI president’s unauthorised say in selection matters.

In order to preserve the selection committee’s independence and autonomy; the BCCI constitution prohibits its president from playing any involvement in selecting the national squad. The Supreme Court-approved constitution states that “the President is deprived of his say in selections.” The secretary; who functions as a convenor but has no influence in selection; is the only BCCI office-bearer who is permitted to attend.

The Indian Express spoke to three past and present selectors who agreed that Ganguly; was a regular fixture in selection meetings during his tenure. According to a top BCCI official, Ganguly has attended every selection; meeting since taking over as president of the BCCI in October 2019.

Two selectors raised the question of appropriateness, saying Ganguly would check in for online selection; meetings and “no one could complain because of his size and position.” One of them admitted that he made; them feel “bullied” on a regular basis. “It made many committee members feel uneasy and hesitant; to share their opinions,” said the selector, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

With Ganguly at the helm of the BCCI, the selection committee has made several significant choices; including the removal of Virat Kohli as ODI captain and the appointment of Rohit Sharma as captain across all forms.

see also: Suryakumar Yadav is the first BCCI central contract holder.

Ganguly’s presence at selection sessions was confirmed by multiple sources in the Indian board. They added the less-experienced selectors were; “reluctant to express their opinion” because of the former captain’s status (he played 113 Tests and 311 One-day Internationals). They claim that this has weakened the power of Indian cricket’s crucial decision-making committee.

The Chetan Sharma, the current chairman of selectors, has played in 23 Tests and 65 One-day Internationals; while his predecessor, M S K Prasad, has only played in six Tests and seventeen ODIs. The current selection committee, which also includes Debashish Mohanty; Sunil Joshi, and Harvinder Singh, has a total experience of 43 Tests and 195 One-Day Internationals. The previous group had played a total of nine Tests and 28 One-Day Internationals.  Saha discussed the message he received from Ganguly; after scoring a half-century against New Zealand despite a neck injury last month.

What I’m attempting to figure out is how things have changed so rapidly” Saha told The Sunday Express, alluding to his prohibition from the Sri Lanka arrangement.

What I’m endeavoring to figure out is how things have changed so quickly, “Saha mention, insinuating to his forbiddance from the Sri Lanka course of action.

read more: Rahul Dravid to Virat Kohli: In the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, he gives a golden speech before presenting Virat Kohli with his 100th Test cap.

The BCCI first revealed Ganguly’s proximity to the selection committee on October 24, 2019, one day after he was elected president, when the board tweeted a photo with the caption: “All smiles at the Senior Selection Committee meeting earlier this afternoon as the teams for the upcoming T20I and Test series against Bangladesh were announced.”

Ganguly was pictured sitting between then-chief selector Prasad and BCCI secretary Jay Shah; as well as skipper Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and other selectors.

When the photo had as of late reemerged on social media; Ganguly denied that it was from a chosen get together; “I have to be make it clear that the photo wasn’t from a choice committee gathering;” he said in an meet with PTI.

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