'Wright insisted on Mongia in place of Laxman'

NEW DELHI: Former India coach John Wright's controversial remarks on team selection on Sunday came under flak from former selectors, with one of them even blaming him for keeping VVS Laxman out of the 2003 World Cup squad.

 

The band of ex-wisemen, with the exception of Ajit Wadekar, were quick to dismiss Wright's allegations as "totally untrue" and termed it a ploy to sell his book.

 

"Wright is exposing himself by writing totally untrue matters like this after five years. After having earned over 200 thousand dollars annually for five years, it is obvious that he wants to make some more money by writing such things so that the book sells well," T A Sekhar of Tamil Nadu, who was a selector during Wright's tenure, said.

 

Wright, in his book titled 'Indian Summers' released in New Zealand earlier this week, has said that team selection was highly influenced by the zonal quota system.

 

The former Kiwi captain said Laxman and Mohammad Kaif bore the brunt of the regional bias and "were always one or two failures away from their place being questioned."

 

Sekhar rebutted Wright's claims saying it was the coach who insisted on including Dinesh Mongia in place of Laxman in the World Cup squad three years ago.

 

"He never owned his responsibilities or took blame during his tenure as coach. Why has he not explained his acts of dumping players to please someone," Sekhar asked.

 

"Laxman was in great form during 2003 but Wright got his way through by insisting on the selection of Dinesh Mongia in Laxman's place. If the selection process was regionalised, how come the team was able to perform so well in 2003 World Cup," Sekar said.

 

Former East Zone selector Ashok Malhotra said Wright appeared desperate to sell his book.

 

"I think he is trying to sell his book by raking up all these controversies," he said.

 

"There is a lesson for us in this -- these mercenaries come to India, stay here for four-five years, they  know nothing about our cricket or our system, when they are here they agree with everyone but once they go back after raking in the moolah, they come out with such allegations."

 

Malhotra said Wright survived for five years only because he had the backing of Sourav Ganguly.

 

"I accompanied the team to Bangladesh (in 2004). I saw in team meetings Wright never uttered a word on strategy, it was Sourav who did all the talking.

 

"He is now criticising Sourav for bringing in (Sunil) Gavaskar (as batting consultant during the series against Australia). If he had a problem why did he not resign there and then?"

 

Former Selection Committee Chairman Chandu Borde said Wright's comments were in "bad taste".

 

"After all, he was present in all our meetings as a coach and he never expressed such things in the meetings. He used say that he was happy about the players given to him."

 

"In my time as chairman, the selectors used to watch even Ranji Trophy matches besides other board tournaments and then give their assessments, which used to be discussed in detail at the selection committee meetings, before we decided on the teams. Wright did not have his observations on the talents available. Wright's contributions in the selection committee meetings merely remained yes or no," Borde said.

 

"How can Wright blame us for such things now? In my era as chairman of the committee we always gave best players to perform for India."

 

Yashpal Sharma, another former India player and selector, said Wright's remarks were "an insult to the BCCI and not the selection committee members."

 

"I [walked] out of the selection committee because I refused to sign the list of 15 players brought by Greg Chappell to a selection meeting," Sharma said.

 

"What is the guarantee that Chappell will not go back to Australia after his tenure as coach and write like what Wright has done.

 

"The zonal system has been existent for decades. In 1980-81, we squared the series in Australia and won it in 1982. The system was the same (during all that time).

 

"When we won the 1983 world cup in England, Chandu Borde was the chairman of selection committee.

 

"Is Wright questioning the capabilities of Borde, who was also the chairman during Wright's time."

 

Wright, however, found support from former coach and selection committee chairman Wadekar who said what was mentioned in the book on selection was not quite off target.

 

"It has been going on for ages. It has been happening mainly because of the zonal system of nominating selectors. I reiterate that I have been pointing this flaw in our system. The board needs to act on this at once and have just a three member committee of reputed former international cricketers.

 

"Even during my days as selector, such things used to be a regular feature. The first 12 or 13 players would be automatic choices and the remaining two or three will be picked by three or four selectors ganging up together.

 

"In fact, they used to meet even before coming for the meeting and will be predetermined on the selections. Most often, I used to be stranded at meetings and my suggestions were never accepted by the majority, who would have preplanned on taking some players. I do not want to pinpoint any selector. I stopped it when I became the chairman of the committee."

 

Wadekar said the committee members never used to watch players in action in Ranji Trophy and used to pursue their agenda since they did not want to antagonise the respective association's administrators in order to retain their seat in the committee.

 

Former Board President and Selection Committee Chairman Raj Singh Dungarpur said he was not surprised by Wright's comments.

 

"It is sad but I am not surprised. John was a good friend of mine. He always spoke to me on these matters. John also had told me how difficult it was to work with Sourav Ganguly. He had said to me that the team meetings used to held for over a good period of two hours and then Ganguly used to change plans in the middle."