In unfamiliar position, Shastri starts afresh Ex-BCCI officials cry foul ahead of Apex court hearing
appointed manager for the Bangladesh tour that followed. Similarly in 2014, after being routed in the Test series in England, a desperate Indian cricket board got him in. Both times, he was seen as the saviour.
However, this time he has taken over the reins of a team in top gear. The No 1 ranked side has been playing dream cricket under Anil Kumble.
As Shastri returns to the country of his first overseas success as coach, it will bring a different kind of pressure. He will have to match his own standard as well that set under Kumble.
Even though the former India all-rounder has publicly dismissed talk of added pressure, comparisons with the team’s displays last year will be inevitable.
It will be about living up to expectations. In the 2015 series here, a close fight was expected given India had not beaten Sri Lanka at home for over decades.
This time they will go into the series as favourites. Sri Lanka have almost been reduced to minnows, and narrowly escaped the ignominy of losing to Zimbabwe in a Test a few days ago.
The hosts are in a rebuilding phase and short on experience. They have been depleted further for the first Test due to the illness of skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
Anything less than complete domination by India in the three Tests, which starts in Galle on Wednesday, will put some pressure on the chief coach.
Aware of the challenge that awaits them against Shastri’s men, the home team is doing what is in its hands – maintain focus and prepare as best as they can. It was evident in their body language and workout at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday morning. After a gruelling five-day game in the previous week, usually home teams would take a Sunday off to spend time with family and friends.
But, the Sri Lanka team reached the venue a day ahead of the tourists and while the Indian team was travelling from Colombo to Galle, the hosts took part in an intensive session.
They started with a session involving a football game before honing catching and fielding skills. Stand-in skipper Rangana Herath and fast bowling coach, Chaminda Vaas, then led the nets session at the centre square.
Herath was operating in the spin bowlers’ net and Vaas was marshalling the fast bowlers’ preparation. The batsmen used the practice facilities next to the main pavilion for throw downs.
Shastri’s strength is his ability to motivate the troops; he is especially good when the morale is low. Here, he will have to ensure his wards maintain intensity against a weaker opponent.
“I have been a servant for 40 years while Srinivasan has been there for 17 years. We have been sent due to our experience
Former BCCI officials Niranjan Shah and N Srinivasan have hit out at Committee of Administrators’ head Vinod Rai in their reply to the Supreme Court that will be heard on Monday.
Speaking to HT, Shah said, “We are going to ask the Court why they are targeting us. There are other disqualified members attending the meeting but why have they mentioned mine and Srinivasan’s names only.”
Among the officials who could find themselves in the dock at Monday’s hearing are acting Board secretary Amitabh Choudhary, who had submitted an undertaking to the court at the time of taking over the BCCI post that he won’t deal with the affairs of the state body.
However, an RTI reply submitted by petitioner Aditya Verma suggests that Choudhary has ‘misled’ the Court.
Verma has submitted a statement from the State Bank of India that claims Choudhary is one of the three officials still managing the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) account with them despite the SC having an undertaking from him that he won’t be involved in the state body’s affairs.
Amitabh Choudhary was unavailable for comment as his phone was switched off. The Supreme Court had earlier this month sought response from the two after Rai had complained that they had been attending the Board meeting, especially the Special General Meeting, despite being disqualified. Rai had said that both Srinivasan and Shah have been obstructing the implementation of Lodha panel recommendations that places cap on tenures and age.
In his reply, Shah has also questioned the presence of other disqualified members, who Shah’s submission says are allowed due to their political links. Shah has also contended that an office-bearer, member and a representative are separate entities and as the best men for the job, they have been sent to the meetings as representative by state bodies.
Shah has also said that he has often attended as a special invitee where his contribution has been positive.