The Indian coach’s proposal to engage the services of a renowned sports psychologist too has not got a sympathetic hearing.
Mumbai: It is not just Greg Chappell’s demand for a permanent manager that has not found favour with the Indian cricket board.
The Indian coach’s proposal to engage the services of a renowned sports psychologist too has not got a sympathetic hearing.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, it is learnt, is sitting over the team management’s suggestion to employ West Indian sports psychologist Dr Rudi Webster for the team for quite some time.
DNA has learnt that coach Chappell had written more than once to the BCCI about the need for a psychologist, more precisely Webster, for the team. But the BCCI is believed to be in favour of using him for a few sessions rather than as a member of the side.
“We’ve asked for details,” said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah, confirming that he had received the proposal from both captain Rahul Dravid and coach Chappell.
“We want to know for how many sessions the team wants him and what is the budget.”
One of the reasons for the Board’s reticence could be the fee that the West Indian charges. The Board has paid Webster $1000 a day for his one-on-ones with the team. The calculations then suggest that his monthly remuneration would be 50 per cent more than Chappell’s monthly salary (which is about $20,000).
Shah, however, denied that the cost is a factor. “We’ve asked the team management for some details and once we get that, we’ll take a decision.”
Meanwhile, Chappell told DNA why he believes a psychologist is important.
“Cricket at the highest level is about the state of mind. Rudy is one of the best sports psychologists in the world. He has been very helpful for the boys once in the past,” he said.
It is learnt that Chappell had raised the issue for the first time about six months back and again recently.
His request was partially approved when the Indian players had one-on-ones for a week with the West Indian during the team’s tour of the Caribbean this summer after the debacle in the one-dayers (India lost the series 1-4).
Dravid & Co bounced back to dominate the hosts in the Test series (they won it 1-0 to break a poor 37-year overseas record).
The Indian coach would not say the turnaround was entirely due to the Webster factor but admits that the West Indian was a catalyst in India’s much-awaited overseas win.
“I’ll not say the win was due to him entirely but he was surely helpful for certain members of the team, particularly Viru (Virender Sehwag),” Chappell said.
Sehwag himself had gone on record that Webster was instrumental in India’s change of fortunes in the Test series.
Chappell said he would be very happy to have Webster on board.
“You should ask Niranjan Shah when we can have him but we surely need him during the build-up for the World Cup.”
It is learnt that the team wants Webster even during the build-up for the Champions Trophy.
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