Re the 'controversial' tete-a-tete between Dravid, Ganguly and the coach on the eve of the first test match at Lahore.
I find it hard to believe that Ganguly was pleading to open the batting. In fact, this claim/spin is really funny! For one thing, Ganguly had ample opportunity to open the (test) batting when he was captain. He was in charge over 5 years, and often in better form than he is at present. Moreover, we never had a settled opening pair in all those years. There were numerous opportunities when he could have done the 'noble' thing and stepped up to the plate like Dravid is doing now. Instead he kept making others the scapegoat: like Badani, Yuvraj, Dravid, Deep Dasgupta, Sanjay Bangar, V. Sehwag etc. etc. While keeping the ODI opening slot to himself. Unlike Chappell, the previous coach was too soft to suggest that he should open the test batting!! Or call a spade a spade (that Ganguly is a coward and spoilt brat).
Even during his last series vs Zimbabwe, when he and the coach (Chappell) had a big discussion about his batting form and place in the team, he refused to open --- despite Chappell mentioning it to him explicitly. What more proof do we need that Ganguly is reluctant to open in tests? If he couldn't do it against a rag-tag toothless attack like Zimbabwe (when nobody except the coach was questioning his credentials), how to believe that he has suddenly become anxious to open against Shoaib Akhtar and co., at Lahore in extremely cold weather? Remember that everybody was discussing how Pak would prepare fiery greentops to greet the Indians...no-one read the pitch correctly, least of all the players/coaches.
Therefore I think Ganguly was not requesting to become an opener. :-) However, I do believe Rahul Dravid when he says that he had made up his mind to open on the night before the test. The sight of Ganguly squaring up against Shoaib Akhtar, Sami and Naved would have dented the morale of our team so badly that no sane captain can risk it!
My version is that, during the heated discussion, Greg Chappell was suggesting that the only place Ganguly could be accomodated was as opener. And Ganguly was 'crying' to his old deputy to save him. :-) This theory is corroborated by Chappell's comments later on in the match about how Dravid had made a "statement". It is obvious that Chappell is not enamoured of Ganguly being given special treatment.
Regarding Sharad Pawar, I had high hopes that things would change...for exactly one day. :-( Pukka politician that he is, he made big statements how he would not interfere in 'cricketing matters' and instead allow the experts to do their own thing. All my illusions were rudely removed when Ganguly was re-instated by a red-faced Kiran More, obviously under pressure from the top. Sharad Pawar has shown himself to be exactly like his predecessor, meddling in each and everything related to BCCI. He is as much a micro-manager as Dollar-Miyan, perhaps that is the reason he sought a meeting with Dollar-Miyan!! Not at all healthy, or promising for the future.
AC Muthiah was a decent BCCI president, like his father. Sadly, Tamilnadu seems to be nowhere in the picture as far as board politics go. Now Pawar and Bindra seem to be the jokers in charge, along with their loud-mouthed side-kick Dungarpur. All slimy and arrogant jerks, interested only in money and power.
