Part I: 'How can you blame Chappell if Team India fares badly?'
Sourav Ganguly is back now. Is there any hint in his comeback that he would be selected for the next year's World Cup in the Caribbean, keeping in mind his overall record in one-day games?
He has to prove a lot in terms of consistent performances. He has been recalled because of his past experience. He is a great cricketer. Let us see how he fares in the Test series in South Africa. If he does well, there is no reason why he can't be in the Indian team for the World Cup.
Do you think Ganguly's absence affected Team India or made a difference to its performance as well as morale?
I don't think so. The same team has done better even without Ganguly; in the West Indies, for instance. Why, even without Sachin Tendulkar, this team has performed well. But we tend to forget good things pretty easily.
I think Team India lost its collective form since the tri-series in Malaysia. Then we had a disappointing Champions Trophy at home. The debacle in South Africa must be the last straw.
I think nothing is clicking, nothing is going right for Team India at the moment. Let us hope the picture will change for the better with the commencement of the Test series.
But I wouldn't buy the argument that Ganguly's absence has affected the team's performance.
Was Ganguly informed or assured in advance, before the selection committee met to pick the team, that he would be picked? Isn't that why he stepped down from the Bengal captaincy?
No, no, I don't think so. People can always make right or wrong assumptions. Maybe he had an inkling or intuition that he might be picked again. This confidence may have led him to step down.
But people shouldn't read too much in Ganguly giving up the Bengal captaincy on the eve of the selection of Team India for the Test series against South Africa.
What actually swung the dice in Ganguly's favour?
Obviously the selectors have taken into account his vast experience, especially because the youngsters haven't lived up to expectations. Don't forget Ganguly is still an active player and has always been in the reckoning. This is a good opportunity for him to prove his worth all over again.
India can always benefit from experienced players like Ganguly. When a player of his stature is available, let us make use of him when others have failed.
How come Venkatsai Laxman has been made vice-captain? Are there hidden signals for Virender Sehwag?
Sehwag has failed consistently in so many matches. Laxman is a senior player. He was an automatic choice for the Test series anyway. Since Sehwag has failed, why can't the selectors replace him as vice-captain?
The selectors had to think about someone else as vice-captain because they can't continue with Sehwag regardless of his glaring failure.
Don't you think this may have an adverse effect on Sehwag?
Doesn't matter. A player has to go out in the field, play and perform consistently well, irrespective of whether he is captain or vice-captain. It is as simple as that.
The fact is that Sehwag's recent form has left a lot to be desired. Maybe this move might fire his desire for success, which will enable him silence his growing number of critics.
The chairman of selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar, has made it clear that the present Indian team will be better off with a bowling coach. What do you have to say in this regard as the BCCI secretary?
We appreciate Vengsarkar's concern for the Indian team. But the BCCI has to take such decisions after taking into consideration so many things. We can't decide on anything haphazardly. We have to take the team management into confidence.
So how will the BCCI act? Will it go by the chairman's wishes or arrive at some decision after consulting the coach and the captain?
As I said, we have to take into consideration many things. For that matter, the BCCI has to discuss such matters with its own officials. We have to think whether so many members are required as Team India's support staff, as part of the team management.
If tomorrow somebody asks for a batting coach or a fielding coach, would the BCCI oblige?
This is precisely what I am trying to tell you. We haven't yet decided on whether to equip the team with a bowling coach. Whether the team requires a bowling coach or a batting coach, or both, depends on a lot of factors, not just one or two.
But we are very open about positive and healthy suggestions. However, we can't take any decisions in haste. We will have to decide carefully whether the team really requires to increase the number of different coaches for different disciplines.
The BCCI had recently sent Greg Chappell an e-mailed warning not to speak too much to the media or something to that effect. Would you like to comment?
I think this issue has already been addressed by (BCCI President) Mr Sharad Pawar. The media tends to glorify certain comments and blow an issue or two out of proportion. So one has to be careful when talking to the media.
Are there specific instructions to Chappell from the BCCI or has he been given a free rein to function in his own way?
He is free to act the way he wants for the benefit of Team India. After all, he isn't only the team coach but also a highly experienced player in his own right. We must have faith in him.
We have five of the world's leading batsmen in our team. But if they fail collectively and consistently, it is simply our bad luck.
How can you blame Chappell if Team India fares badly because of their failure?
Nowadays the selectors tend to make private as well as public statements not only about the team selection but also about fining the staging association in the event of the pitch proving to be a bad one...
I think the selectors, including chairman Vengsarkar, have to refrain from making any comment on such things. If they have any suggestion, they can make it to the Board. But they don't have to rush to the media or public.
As for fines, punishments and such things, well, they are BCCI policy matters. Let me emphasise that we know very well what we know what we should do and what we shouldn't do. We have to go to the proper forum for any discussion before taking any decision.
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