Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticised Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly's handling of Virat Kohli's claim following the player's removal from ODI captaincy.
"This could have been handled in a better way. I always feel that the role of a cricket board is very important; it plays the role of a father," Afridi told Pakistan's Urdu-language news channel Samaa TV.
"Whatever future plans a selection committee of a board has regarding a player, it communicates those plans to that player, like, 'Look, we have these plans, what are your plans? We want to do this and as a board, we see benefits from doing this.'"
"If you communicate through the media, then there will be issues. If you sit in front of each other, speak face to face, then I think there can be solutions to problems. If you want to create issues out of something, then that doesn't solve anything."
Kohli's claim
Ganguly earlier claimed that he had personally requested Kohli not to step down from T20I captaincy after the T20 World Cup. Later in a press conference ahead of team India's Test tour to South Africa, Kohli said he would continue leading India in Tests and ODIs after quitting from the position of T20I captain earlier this year.
The BCCI, however, stripped Kohli of his position as ODI skipper while announcing the roster for the Test series in South Africa. Kohli was then replaced by Rohit Sharma, to which he claimed he received no notification for his removal from the position.
That being said, Kohli accepted his removal, speaking during a press conference ahead of his departure to South Africa that it was only "logical" as he had failed to win a single ICC title. This is the first time in five years an Indian team is not led by the batter.
"I can understand why," said Kohli. "The reason: We haven't won an ICC tournament. Whether the decision they took is right or wrong, there's no debate. It's a logical decision which I understand.
"Whatever was said about the communication that happened during the decision that was made was inaccurate. I was contacted one and half hours before the selection meeting on 8th for the Test series.
"And there was no prior communication with me since I announced the T20I captaincy decision up till December 8. The chief selector discussed the Test team to which we both agreed. Before ending the call, I was told the five selectors decided that I would not be ODI captain. To which I replied 'okay fine.'"
BCCI's response
BCCI said that the cricket board would take care of Kohli's claim of receiving no communication, but the board has chosen to remain silent so far.
"No statements, no press conference. We will deal with it, leave it to BCCI," said Ganguly barely 24 hours after Kohli's press conference. In contrast to Afridi, fellow former Pakistan captain Salman Butt hailed the decision, saying that internally handling the matter was the wisest option.
"It's a sensible topic and it would have been naïve if there were exchange of words over the matter to the board would have sent a show-cause notice," Butt explained on his YouTube channel. "That is not the way. Team in on a tour. The main objective is to play cricket and win matches and play for the country."
The former Pakistan Test skipper also cited that it was best to keep the media out of this issue.
"I think they have been sensible about it, all of them," the 37-year-old added. "And they should keep it under wraps. Better not to give media half-volleys or full tosses or else you will be hit for boundaries or sixes. Obviously, they have had a discussion about it, but it has obviously been all internal and that is the way to go."
