Internet Desk: Former cricketer Madan Lal has lashed at the BCCI officials for the entire coach fiasco. The 1983 World Cup winning cricketer feels the Board should have handled the issue of new coach selection in a much better way.
Speaking to xtratime.in from Delhi, Madan said, “The way a few top officials in BCCI is backing Shastri to become the coach, one would wonder why they invited applications for the post?”
He went further ahead in saying that, “Mr Johuri (BCCI CEO) was in England just a few days back where Kohli was present with the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. Did he not have enough time to take Kohli’s opinion then? What was the logic behind going to the Caribbean to take Kohli’s opinion when it could have been taken via a video conference?”
Madan Lal, who was taken 71 wickets from 39 tests went further in claiming, “What baffles me is the Indian team did well during Kumble;s tenure, so why was there a need for a change. The bottom line is BCCI did not take the initiative to solve the issue amicably across the table.”
The former Test cricketer from Delhi took a dig at the BCCI top officials. According to Madan Lal, “The BCCI top officials did not like the Trade Union “giri” of Anil Kumble as we all know he took an initiative earlier to see a hike in the player’s payment.”
He added, “The so called Cricket Advisory Committee is just an ornamented committee of the BCCI, with the top bosses taking the call.”
Another former cricketer Gundappa Vishwanath wasn’t as harsh though as Madan Lal.
According to Vishy, “All that has happened with Anil was uncalled for and unfortunate. It could have been handled a lot better. But this was bound to happen. The way Ravi (Shastri) was removed from his post was not right as well.”
Commenting on the BCCI CEO’s meeting with Kohli in the Caribbean, Vishwanath said, “I recently read from the papers that the BCCI CEO Rahul Johuri is travelling to the Caribbean to talk with Virat Kohli which only puts a stamp who is the frontrunner.”
“What surprises me was that everyone was present in England during the Champions Trophy but none could handle the situation,” felt the former champion batsman.