Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president-elect, indicated on Wednesday that no hasty decision will be taken on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s future with Team India.
Dhoni hasn’t donned the India jersey since Virat Kohli and Co.’s defeat in the World Cup semi-final in Manchester. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation over the former captain’s retirement from international cricket. Sourav on Wednesday said he would speak to the selectors on the matter when the India squad for the series versus Bangladesh is picked on October 24.
“We have to first find out what Dhoni himself is thinking. I will be talking to the selectors regarding this when we meet on the October 24 and then we have to see what can be done,” Sourav said after an informal meeting with some Cricket Association of Bengal office-bearers. Asked if a player can be on such a long break, Sourav replied: “I was not in a position to act during that period. So, I am waiting to speak to the selectors and find out what he (Dhoni) has told them.”
Sourav will also be speaking to captain Kohli for the first time about the team in the upcoming selection meeting. “I will be talking to Virat regarding the team in this selection meeting... The captain has to be there in the meeting (according to the Board’s constitution),” he said. In his dealings as the Board president, players will always be the first priority, Sourav emphasised. “As long as I’m there, cricket and cricketers will always be the top priority,” he said.
Sourav was supposed to go to Ranchi for the third and final India-South Africa Test beginning on Saturday. But that won’t be possible as he will have to go to Kochi to attend the ISL VI inauguration, being the “face of the ISL”. “Yes, I was supposed to be in Ranchi, but I have been made the face of ISL, so will have to be in Kochi for the ISL inauguration on October 20,” he said.
He will reach Mumbai the next day before officially taking over as the Board president after the annual general meeting (AGM) on October 23. Asked about the BCCI representative at ICC meetings, Sourav said: “That will be decided by the (Board’s) apex council, which will be formed after the AGM.”
Sourav added that he would continue to be a part of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC): “I will be there now as the BCCI president.” Sourav, meanwhile, acknowledged that wishes have been pouring in from the cricket fraternity after he became the BCCI’s president-elect. However, Kohli and India head coach Ravi Shastri are yet to wish him. “Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammed Shami, Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant have wished me. Also, from Australia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh boards...
“Wishes came in from Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya, KP (Kevin Pietersen), Michael Vaughan and also Nasser (Hussain),” he added.