Shastri, Ganguly clash after coaching snub

Denied another stint as India's head coach, Ravi Shastri has spoken out against former captain Sourav Ganguly, who was part of the panel which awarded the job to Anil Kumble last week.

The coach's post had been vacant since Shastri's 18-month tenure as the team director ended with India's semi-final exit at the World Twenty20 tournament on home soil earlier this year.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India received 57 applications for the head coach job, which were made available to an advisory panel that included ex-captains Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly and former batsman VVS Laxman.

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The panel met the final contenders, including Shastri who spoke via skype, before Kumble, a contemporary of the ex-cricketers on the panel, landed the job.

A disappointed Shastri told the Indian media he felt Ganguly's absence during his interview was disrespectful, but Ganguly explained he had been given BCCI approval to briefly leave the job interviews to attend a meeting of his state cricket association, of which he is the president.

"I just feel that the comments are very personal and if Ravi Shastri feels that I am responsible for him not being the coach of India, he's living in a fool's world," Ganguly told television reporters in Kolkata.

"It's a committee and there are people in the committee who are of more repute than I am and there are other people involved also who were consulted and spoken about. So that's disappointing."

"I am extremely saddened when he went on air, expressing his views, especially from someone who has been in every BCCI committee for the last 20 years. He has been in my position, you know, the position to select the coach."

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In response, Ganguly said Shastri should also have been present in person during his interview.

"Since he's spoken about disrespect, and honestly I say this with anger, that he gave me a suggestion that in the future that I should be available for such meetings," Ganguly said.

"I have an advice for him also. When the coach of India is selected, and it's one of the most important jobs in cricket, he should be in front of the committee giving his presentation and not sit in Bangkok on holiday and make a presentation on camera.

"Especially when someone, who is one of the greatest cricketers of India all time (Anil Kumble), spoke for two hours nearly."