Captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday sought to put behind the controversy over his captaincy as he termed coach Greg Chappell's statement on the issue as "fair".

"I think it's a fair statement. If that was his idea as the coach fair enough, that's how it is and that's how it should be," Ganguly told ESPN Star Sports on the eve of the second Test at the Harare Sports Club.

• Greg, Sourav call truce

Ganguly had disclosed at the end of third day's play of the first Test that he was asked to step down as captain at the start of the match. Although he did not name who asked him to step down, there were enough hints in his words that it was indeed the coach.

It triggered a huge controversy with the media speculating on the context of the conversation between Chappell and captain.

Chappell, in an effort to clear the issue, read out a statement on Monday wherein he said all he did was to have a frank discussion with the captain (who has been in poor form in recent times) and boost his morale going into the match.

"It was a frank discussion about Indian cricket's present and future, and much of what I said was aimed at motivating Sourav for the Bulawayo Test match. In that regard our exchange was beneficial," Chappell had said earlier in the day.

Ganguly said he was satisfied with the coach's clarification.

Asked if the controvery did not affect the rest of the squad, Ganguly said issues like this were perennial in Indian cricket.

"I think there are issues, which are going to happen in sport. And today, it was captain and coach, tomorrow it is going to be some other player and the coach and some other player and the captain," Ganguly said on the channel's daily news programme.

"I think we are professional people, we are mature enough, take those things in our stride, and go ahead with our cricket. There is no team in the world where every thing is right. And it has happened since 50 years and will happen 50 years down the line."

"So, you just got to take it in your stride. Do what is best and try and do the best in that situation," he said.