Former BCCI selectors have claimed that board president Sourav Ganguly often used to interfere in team selection meetings even though the rules suggest otherwise. As per the constitution of the BCCI, the board president isn’t allowed in the selection meetings; however, a report published by the Indian Express on Friday has quoted a couple of former selectors claiming that Ganguly is indeed present during the Indian team selection meetings.

In fact, one of the former selectors has claimed that Saurav Ganguly has attended every selection meeting since he took over as the BCCI president since October 2019, and that even though his presence wasn’t comfortable for several members, no one could afford to express displeasure. One member has even said that they felt ‘bullied’ by Ganguly attending these meetings.

As per the quotes in the Indian Express, the former selector said, “Because of his stature and position, no one could object. It made many committee members uncomfortable and guarded in expressing their opinion.”

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The anecdotes are coming out amid the turmoil in Indian cricket, most precisely during the Virat Kohli-Sourav Ganguly saga that transpired in December last year. Soon after, a picture of Ganguly and several members of the selection committee sitting together along with Kohli and Rohit Sharma, taken in 2019 started making rounds on social media, implementing that Ganguly probably is part of these meetings.

However, when the picture emerged again last month, Sourav Ganguly said: “I don’t think I need to answer anybody, anything (on this) and dignify any of these baseless accusations. I am the president of the BCCI and I do the job of what the president of the BCCI should be doing. (I have played) 424 international matches for India. Not a bad idea at times to remind people about it, isn’t it?”

Recently, during the uproar caused by Wriddhiman Saha’s, the Indian wicketkeeper explained the contrasting statement by Ganguly in light of the 37-year-old’s ouster from the Indian team.

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During a chat with the Indian Express, Wriddhiman Saha said, “After scoring 61 against New Zealand at Kanpur, Dadi (Ganguly) congratulated me over WhatsApp and mentioned, ‘As long as I’m here (helming the BCCI), you would be in the team’. Such a message from the BCCI president really boosted my confidence. What I’m struggling to understand is how things have changed so fast.”