‘These things happen, let’s focus on winning’

The day after, the message from Team India appears to be, Let’s get on with the cricket. That was the specific message from Greg Chappe...

The day after, the message from Team India appears to be, Let’s get on with the cricket. That was the specific message from Greg Chappell, and the consensus opinion of the BCCI — typically speaking in many voices — was that the focus is on winning matches, as India did today.

Sourav Ganguly, though, offered this quixotic quote when asked whether a mending of the relationship between him and Chappell was underway. ‘‘Only time will tell. It’s not right for me to make a statement now.’’

Chappell was measured and statesmanlike, saying if the team focused on success, a lot of these issues would not matter. ‘‘Things come up from time to time and people get frustrated. They say things which probably they don’t really mean and are not as important as they are made out to be. I think if we keep looking at success a lot of these issues would fade away.’’

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Chappell said he had been through this all and was only interested in following the right process. ‘‘There are some things which you can’t control. We can only concentrate on what we are doing.

‘‘I have been through this before. There is always going to be something bubbling around the place. We can’t get worried about it or get involved in it.’’

His sentiments were echoed by BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla. ‘‘Right now the focus is on winning the series and we do not wish to make any comment. These are very trivial issues which are being blown out of proportion by the media.’’

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