Shastri slams 'disrespectful' Ganguly over interview snub

- 'It's nothing to do with Sourav, but I am disappointed because that person was disrespectful of the candidate who was going to be interviewed and disrespectful of the job he was entrusted to do.'

A disappointed former team director Ravi Shastri on Tuesday hit out at Sourav Ganguly saying he was 'disrespectful' of the candidate he was interviewing and the job of selecting the coach he was entrusted with.

Attacking Ganguly for absenting himself when his turn for interviewing came last week, Shastri said the former India captain should attend such a meeting when next time someone is being interviewed for such a post.

"Not miffed at all. I am just disappointed. Nothing surprises me in cricket. It's nothing to do with Sourav, but I am disappointed because that person was disrespectful of the candidate who was going to be interviewed and disrespectful of the job he was entrusted to do," he told India Today.

While complimenting the choice of Anil Kumble as the coach, Shastri said he is disappointed personally because he wanted to carry forward all the good work he had done in the last 18 months which had worked wonderfully well.

Asked what would be his advise to Ganguly, he said "next time be in the meeting when someone is being interviewed for such a top post".

He parried a question whether there was not an issue of conflict of interest against Ganguly, who is the president of Cricket Association of Bengal and member of the cricket Advisory Committee.

Again when he was asked about his disappointment, he replied: "I was disappointed five days ago (when the announcement was made) but it now looks two months."

Image: Ravi Shastri

Photograph: BCCI