New Delhi, March. 31 (PTI): Mohinder Amarnath should replace Greg Chappell as the coach of the Indian cricket team following the World Cup debacle, according to former captain Ajit Wadekar who has also advocated a "total change" in the selection system.
"Of course, we need to change the coach and it is time that we give the responsibility to an Indian. At the same time, we need to bring in a system at all levels. There has been for number of years, past cricketers like me have been crying hoarse for a change in the selection system," Wadekar said.
"Mohinder is the ideal person for the job but Sandeep Patil also has experience having worked as the coach of foreign teams earlier," he told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Wadekar, who captained India from 1971 to 1974, has not been invited to serve in a BCCI Working Committee meeting in Mumbai on April 6 to interact with the Board officials, said past cricketers in the country were not respected or given any sort of responsibility in the development of the game in the country.
"My suggestion to the Board is that when we appoint an Indian coach, we should give him the right to decide on the team that he and the captain require. For this, we need to overhaul the complete system of selection in our country.
"It is necessary that the past cricketers, who have served the country should be recognised and are given some responsibility in any manner to bestow their knowledge to the youngsters. Such things, including taking the former players in to confidence are lacking in the Board and also in State Associations," he said. Wadekar said India could not even advance to the second stage of World Cup despite having all facilities under the Australian coach and added in the country of vast size, different religions and languages, it was important to have an Indian occupying the coveted post.
"I suppose the foreign coaches have been doing a satisfying job. For example, the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh teams have been doing well under foreign coaches.
"(But) I would support appointment of an Indian as the coach for various reasons. India is a vast country with different religion and language and food habits.
"They (Indians) may not have as much experienced as Greg Chappell. But, it is more important that a coach needs to be respected. He should command respect and not demand it. We have people played at highest levels and deserve to be the coach of his own National team.
Wadekar, however, said he was in no way affected by not having been invited to serve in a committee meeting in Mumbai on April 6.
"In no way I am affected by not having been invited to serve in the committee. That is the way the Board functions. Perhaps the Board officials feel that some are indispensable and they though to have more knowledgeable people in that committee," he added.
On right to vote to the coach and the captain, practiced in countries like Australia and South Africa, Wadekar, who was the chairman of the selection Committee in 1999, said it was not a major issue.
"Question of voting comes only when there is a confrontation. Normally, the top 11 or 12 players used to get selected automatically and there will be discussions for one or two players and we never used to leak it out.
"In fact, I refused to continue to serve in the Selection Committee after 1999 when I was the Chairman of the Committee since the other members were working as a coterie at that time."
Wadekar staunchly feel the past players with credentials and greater experience should serve in the selection committee, which should be reduced from five- to three-member.
"It is necessary that we need to reduce the number of selection committee to three and all three could be from any state in the country provided they had played the game at the highest levels.
"To pick the best team, the three selectors, should show honesty and integrity. They should make each of the selectors accountable to their decisions and they should be touring the country to watch important matches before sitting together to pick the best squad," he said.
AuthorTopic: Wadekar tips Amarnath to replace Chappell (Read 552 times)
