Ravi Shastri hails ICC's decision to appoint N Srinivasan as chairman

Ravi Shastri (File Photo)

Former Indian captain Ravi Shastri has welcomed International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to choose controversial former BCCI president N. Srinivasan as its first chairman.

He said that it was a good choice by the ICC, despite the Supreme Court taking off his powers as BCCI president, and the fact that a probe is still pending for alleged corruption charges in Indian Premier League (IPL).

“If you want my answer, it’s a very good choice,” said Shastri. ‘I don’t think you should jump the gun. There’s an inquiry going on, let that happen. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has said there is no reason why Srinivasan can’t go and become the ICC chairman,” Shastri added at a promotional event in Kolkata.

Right amount of T20 cricket

The cricketer-turned-commentator was of the opinion that there could be different ways of looking at Twenty20 cricket but believed that the format was the right injection cricket needed.

“It was the injection the game needed to evolve. We are very lucky to have got three faculties in a game of cricket. There is a place for all the three formats. This is the only sport that has a place for three formats. It won’t happen in any other sport. I think T20 was extremely important,” he said.

Shastri also believes that it’s wrong to think that young cricketers are lured into playing IPl, while ignoring Test Cricket.

"It's a misconception that everyone wants to just play the IPL. There might be a few who would be eyeing only IPL, but majority of the youngsters want to play for India and in Tests. The tournament has a lot of positives. I've seen more people wanting to follow the sport, more viewers, youngsters, families at the ground. At the end of the day it's cricketing skills," opined the former Indan all-rounder.

1987 World Cup - A missed opportunity

"Look at the standard of fielding, the quality of catches taken in this year's IPL, even the running between the wickets. It's fabulous. All these skills will help you in the five-day game as well; a brilliant run out may change the course of the Test match. There are a lot of positives that have come out of it. Ideally a player would want to play all three but if he's stuck with one then so be it,” he added.

The Mumbaikar also recollected that India could have won the 1987 World Cup if they had managed to beat England in the semi-finals and gone on to play at Eden Gardens.

"I've one regret - that we could not beat England in Mumbai. If we could overcome that hurdle then with the huge fan support that the Eden Gardens have to offer we would have surely lifted the Trophy in 1987," Shastri bewailed about the 35-run loss to England at Wankhede.

Adding to the praise for the cricket stadium at Kolkata, Shastri said the city held a special place for him as it was here the team could overcome the fear of defeat against West Indies after the historic World Cup victory in 1983.

Remembering the five-match ODI series against West-Indies in 1987-88, Shastri said: "It was just after the New Year (in 1988) and we could finally beat them for the first time since our win in the final of the World Cup.

"The atmosphere was electrifying with one lakh fans packed up in the stands, I still remember the day vividly," he said.