Won’t mess up like I did while suggesting Chappell: Ganguly
22 Jun 2016 10:36 PM GMT
Ganguly and Chappell shared a frosty relationship during two turbulent years in country’s cricket, a time when one of India’s celebrated captain was removed from the top job.
“I once had an opportunity to select the coach. I thought I messed it up in 2005 (during Chappell’s recruitment). I have been given that opportunity again. I had taken an interview (Chappell) once and it did not go off well,” Ganguly said during the launch of his book ‘A Century Is Not Enough’.
Ganguly hoped that the Cricket Advisory Committee will do it correctly.“Hopefully, we will do it correctly this time, whoever it is... Luckily, I’ve got support in Sachin, VVS, the BCCI secretary (Ajay Shirke) and the president (Anurag Thakur).
Together, we will pick the right person,” said Ganguly.Ganguly accepted that being the coach of the Indian team did cross his mind a couple of years back.
“To be honest, two and half years ago, I was thinking myself whether I would want this job. Now on Tuesday, I’m selecting one. That’s how life is. I have not given interview, hopefully I will give (the interview) one day...”
“In life nothing is guaranteed, nobody knows what will happen one or two years later. Nobody thought I would be president of CAB and hosting a World Twenty20 final. That’s how life is, and you have to deal it.”
The former skipper said that he spent a sleepless night on Monday on the eve of coach’s interview, somewhat similar to the feeling before his Test debut against England at the Lord’s in 1996.
“On Monday night, I was not getting sleep when everyone was sleeping. I saw it (his hundred at the Lord’s) on YouTube -- a 12-minute video -- and I fell asleep after that. I felt happy.” I am a normal human being, who wanted to do well in a profession, which I loved the most. That afternoon (at the Lord’s) made me believe if I work hard, I’ve got it in me to play for next 10 years.
“When I got my first Test hundred at the Lord’s, I still remember the press conference. The first question was, ‘you answered your critics, what do you have to tell about that?’ But the first thing that came to my mind is that I belonged at this level.”
Kumble, Amre, Rajput make presentations for coach’s job
Former captain Anil Kumble along with former cricketers Pravin Amre and Lalchand Rajput on Tuesday made their respective presentations as the BCCI’s three-member cricket advisory committee took interviews for India’s coach at a city hotel here.
Kumble, Amre and Rajput met the panel comprising Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar while former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale who is the ‘coordinator’ of the selection process assisted the trio. Former India team director Ravi Shastri was away and hence interviewed via video conference.
The BCCI after its advertisement on its website had received 57 applications from both India and outstation aspirants from which the list was trimmed to 21 and the committee is expected to forward its recommendation to the president by June 22.
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