In the event of a ‘good’ performance by the Indian team at the World Cup, Greg Chappell may continue to hold the reins of the Men in Blue.
Option to recall Sandeep Patil as coach finds favour among some BCCI members
MUMBAI: India coach Greg Chappell’s future will largely depend on the team’s showing at the World Cup. In the event of a ‘good’ performance, the Australian may continue to hold the reins of the Men in Blue. But his contract “will not be renewed” if the performance fails to live up to expectation.
The message was to be conveyed to Chappell on Monday evening at a meeting with top board officials, including Sharad Pawar. The meeting was aborted as the BCCI chief was delayed in New Delhi. Along with Pawar, two other senior officials and secretary Niranjan Shah were to attend the meeting.
Chappell, it is learnt, was keen to get a decision on his future before the team left for the West Indies. The coach will now be talked to at some stage during the World Cup, when top officials visit the Caribbean. Pawar too may visit the West Indies, though his programme is undecided.
No board official was willing to comment on the matter, but it is clear that a section of the BCCI is unhappy with Chappell’s performance. That India failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in India did not go down well with them.
Has the board identified a successor for Chappell? The names of a few former India cricketers are being discussed, among them Sandeep Patil, 50, former India coach.
Patil – who surprised the cricket world by guiding minnows Kenya to the semi-finals at the last World Cup – had taken over from Ajit Wadekar in 1996. He was also among the candidates called for an interview by the BCCI in May 2005. But he turned down the offer. Chappell was selected.
Patil, who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad, said, “I do not want to discuss this. At this stage I want India to win the World Cup.”
He refused to say whether he has been approached by the BCCI. Pressed for an opinion on Chappell’s coaching, he said: “Very good.”
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