Shastri resigns from ICC's Cricket Committee

Former India captain and Team Director Ravi Shastri has resigned as media representative from the ICC's prestigious Cricket Committee.

Incidentally, the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee is current Team India coach Anil Kumble, who was chosen over Shastri for the job after getting the nod from the high-profile Cricket Advisory Committee, which included former India stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman.

"I have already submitted my resignation. There are personal commitments and I have been there for six years," Shastri said, without elaborating, on Friday.

The official reason is his busy media commitments as commentator, television expert and columnist, though there is speculation that the former all-rounder may have resigned as he is yet to come to terms with rejection that led to a widely publicised spat with Cricket Advisory Committee member Sourav Ganguly.

"Just like Sourav, Ravi is also an emotional man at one level. He is yet to come to terms with rejection. Since he became media representative as a BCCI nominee, probably, he is not willing to continue in that post. Also with Kumble expressing his opinion to continue as chairman, it might just be uncomfortable for both of them to sit in a meeting.

"Also, media representative is more of a decorative post in the ICC Cricket Committee," a BCCI source said.

IMAGE: Ravi Shastri

Photograph: BCCI