Ganguly wants Shastri to be involved with NCA
KOLKATA: India coach Ravi Shastri will be asked to spend more time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), said BCCI president Sourav Ganguly here on Thursday.
“We will create a system where Ravi is involved more at NCA till he is the coach,” Ganguly told reporters. “(India bowling coach) Bharat (Arun) goes there (Bengaluru), Paras (Mhambrey, the India under-19 bowling coach) goes there and of course we have Rahul (Dravid) there; one of the greats of Indian cricket. We will make it a good Centre of Excellence but actually the NCA does a lot of work once you actually get to know about it (by going there) rather than reading small reports here and there. Even skipper Virat Kohli is very interested and passionate about the NCA.”
Ganguly visited the NCA on Wednesday and said he spoke to Dravid for two hours. “I wanted to find out what is the way forward.” Ganguly said.
“The NCA is right in the heart of the city and the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) helps us a lot; they don’t even charge a penny. The good work of the NCA shows in the performance of our junior teams. The bigger it is, the better it will be,” said Ganguly at the Eden Gardens.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken on lease 40 acres of land near the Bengaluru airport to build a new centre.
EDEN TO FELICITATE
1ST B’DESH TEST TEAM When the conversation shifted to the day-night Test at Eden Gardens—the first in India— beginning on November 22,
Ganguly said “it will be a great game.”
“We have sent invitations to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Home Minister’s office, the Bengal governor’s office and to Didi (West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee). In the next three-four days, we will get a clear idea of who all are coming.
“The Prime Minister of Bangladesh (Sheikh Hasina Wajed) has confirmed. We will also felicitate the players of the first Test Bangladesh played (against India in 2000). Everyone in the India team is available and I am trying to get Sachin (Tendulkar),” he said. PV Sindhu and MC Mary Kom too will be felicitated for their performance this year during the Test, said Ganguly.
‘ISSUE WITH SG BALLS WILL BE SORTED’
Asked if India captain Virat Kohli shared his reservations about the pink ball, with which day-night Tests are played, Ganguly replied in the negative. “He (Kohli) has no problems,” said Ganguly.
“Overall, he may have an issue with SG balls but we will address that.” Asked if the ball swings more, Ganguly said: “Well if they can play a ball that turns, they can also play one that swings.”
“I played with a Dukes pink ball many years ago for MCC and had no problem,” he said.
The annual general meeting of the BCCI will be held in the third week of November, said Ganguly.
On the issue of the conflict of interest in BCCI, Ganguly said he hasn’t met the ombudsman after becoming president. “I did when the issue arose over me. Now Rahul (Dravid) is facing the brunt,” he said.