Ranbir Denies Gangulys Allegations
Ranbir Singh, administrate manager of the Indian team on the 1991-92 tour of Australia, today refuted Sourav Ganguly's charges against him as "not true" and asked the current India captain to "come out with proof, if he has any".
"I am amazed it took nearly nine years for Ganguly to dig up something which is supposed to have happened during the Indian tour to Australia in 1991-92," Rannbir Singh, now secretary of the Haryana Cricket Association, said in a release faxed from Bhiwani, referring to the left-handed batsman's statement in BBC's 'Face to Face" programme broadcast today.
In that programme, Ganguly said reports that he had an attitude problem during his first stint with the squad on the 1991-92 Australian tour were all nonsense and were fabricated by the then team manager.
"I think they (media) had information from the manager we had on the that tour...," the skipper added.
Ranbir Singh said he had reasons to believe this was not an off the cuff remark by Ganguly as "some journalists had been asking me about it even before he came to Faridabad to play in the one-dayer.
"What is intriguing is he chose to make such a statement even after knowing that the administrative manager has no say in either the team selection or the field cricket matters. These are dealt (with) by the cricket coach or cricket manager," he added.
Ranbir Singh said his tour report was placed before the board and no adverse remarks against any player was brought to the notice of its members.
He said "there is more to it than meets the eye and it is for the board president to investigate the matter and vindicate my honour as a senior member and former secretary of the board.
(PTI)
If the board president is satisfied that there is even an iota of truth in what Ganguly alleged, I am prepared to quit all positions in Indian cricket. If the board president is convinced the whole thing has been (done) with malafide intention, then he should punish the guilty, he said.
Ranbir Singh expressed his 'pain' at the language Ganguly used and the motives attributed to him.
I can only assure him that I never had any ill-will against him, either in 1991-92 when he was the baby of the Indian team or now when his riding high as a successful captain.
He has packed his argument on the surmise that I had something against an official of his state association and I was trying to take it out on him. This is not only untrue, it is too loaded a statement. I can only tell him as his well-wisher not to make such irresponsible statements as India's captain. I wish him all the luck.
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