BCCI President Sourav Ganguly cleared a lot of air surrounding the national selectors’ decision to not send a replacement for injured opener Shubman Gill in England, saying the selection committee had the final say in the matter. The Indian team management on June 28, through administrative manager Girish Dongre, had requested two openers as a replacement, preferably Prithvi Shaw and Devdutt Padikkal.

However, the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma hadn’t sent any formal reply to that mail as four openers are already in the UK. When asked about the contentious issue, Ganguly, while addressing reporters on his 49th birthday on Thursday, said: “That’s selectors’ call.”

Both Shaw and Padikkal are currently in Sri Lanka for the limited-overs series in the Island nation under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan for a six-match series. Indian Test squad under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, India is set to play a five-match Test series against England, starting August 4. Ganguly expressed optimism about hosting the suspended leg of this year’s IPL in the UAE in September.

ALSO READ: Zimbabwe Bangladesh Players Engaged In A Fiery Banter

Sourav Ganguly said, “Nothing will happen we will manage. It will start in September. We will chalk out the nitty-gritties.”

Ganguly reiterated the BCCI was forced to shift this year’s ICC World T20 to the UAE keeping in mind the safety and security of all stakeholders. The T20 World Cup was scheduled to be held in India in October-November this year.

Clarifying on the matter, Sourav Ganguly said, “There will be regret but no one has witnessed such a situation in their entire lifetime. These are exceptional circumstances. Last year the World Cup got canceled and this year if again the World Cup gets canceled because of COVID, then it’s a massive loss for the game. That’s why we have taken it into a safer place.”

Sourav Ganguly, who had suffered a mild heart attack and undergone a quick primary angioplasty in January this year, said he is completely fine now.

ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan Praises Rahul Dravid; Appreciates His Communication Skills

Talking about his health, Sourav Ganguly said, “I’m fully fit. It’s another year gone, that’s the way it is. In these COVID time, you just try and stay as quiet as possible. It’s for the people around you rather than you. “People at home have made their preparations to celebrate. It’s a closed door celebrations.”