Former India captain and the current president of Cricket Association of Bengal Sourav Ganguly has raised serious concerns on the state of affairs in Indian cricket, in an email sent to the BCCI.
In the letter addressed to BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and acting president C.K. Khanna, Ganguly expressed his concern over CoA's handling of the sexual harassment allegations against BCCI CEO Rahul Johri, and the “divided CoA”.
Johri was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a woman at his earlier workplace. The two-member CoA, headed by Vinod Rai, instructed Johri to go on leave and submit an explanation. He has been asked to “remain on leave” till the three-member committee set up by the CoA to look into the allegations submitted its findings and suitable action was taken.
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“(sic) I write this mail to you all with the deep sense of fear as to where Indian cricket administration is going..Having played the game for a long period of time, were our lives ruled by winning and losing, and the image of Indian cricket was of paramount importance to us. But with deep sense of worry, I beg to state that the way things have gone in the last couple of years, the authority of Indian cricket to the world and the love and belief of millions of fans is on the way down," Ganguly wrote in the letter.
Former cricketer and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly writes to BCCI Acting President CK Khanna, Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry over Committee of Administrators (CoA) and sexual harassment allegations against Rahul Johri. pic.twitter.com/iAh8o7ECXz
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018
“I don't know how far it's true, but the recent reports of harassment has really made the BCCI look very poorly.. more so the way it has been handled... The Comittee of Administrators from four has come down to two and now the two seem to be divided.”
While Diana Edulji, the other CoA member, wanted Johri to resign or his contract terminated because of the "grave sexual harassment allegations against him", Rai did not agree and felt that "an independent inquiry was necessary as the tweet was anonymous”.
Ganguly, one of India's most successful captains, also recalled his "appalling experience" during the coach selection process. Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman, who comprised the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), had chosen Ravi Shastri as the head coach, along with Zaheer Khan as the bowling consultant and Rahul Dravid as the batting consultant for overseas Test matches. However, Bharat Arun returned as the bowling coach, Sanjay Bangar the assistant coach and R. Sridhar the fielding coach on Shastri's insistence, much to CAC's embarrassment.
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In 2016, the CAC had recommended Anil Kumble as the coach, but he had to step aside within a year after a bitter fallout with captain Virat Kohli. Kumble was replaced by Shastri, whom Kohli preferred.
"Decisions made in committees are turned around with complete disrespect... My experience in the matter of coach selection was appalling (the less said the better)," Ganguly said in the letter.
"One of my friends who is involved in matters relating to functioning of Board asked me who should they go to. I had no answer. I had to ask who should I invite for an international game from a particular association as I did not know what was going on."
Ganguly reminded them that Indian cricket has been built by the "hard work" of some "superb" administrators and “greatest of cricketers”.
"I, at the present moment, think it's in danger. Hope people are listening," he said.
