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Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president Raj Singh Dungarpur has said that no Indian is fit to coach the national team.
In an interview with PTI, Dungarpur said, "The World Cup flop show notwithstanding, either incumbent Greg Chappell should be retained or his predecessor John Wright should be brought back. I do not think that in India, with due respects to all great players, there is any single person to serve as the coach."
"Chappell has not done anything wrong. He speaks from a high position since he was one of the best players in the history of the game. There is nothing wrong in having a foreign coach and Greg will be my first choice if he is available," he said.
Dungarpur said that should the former Australian captain decline to renew his contract with the Indian team, he would prefer Wright, although the New Zealander lacked Chappell's stature as the coach.
"John (Wright) is the best suited to our system. He is very methodical and clean, and not affected by anybody. But he has not got that sort of a high position like Greg. If he (Chappell) tells somebody, even Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid would agree with him," he said.
When it was pointed out that Chappell's tenure had not yielded better results than Wright, Dungarpur agreed, but said, "We mostly played against softer teams under John. But still I do not want to take the credit away from him. I think Greg did his best. If he took three steps forward, the standard of Indian cricket and the approach of players took four steps backward. After all, it requires two to play a tango."
On selection issues, Dungarpur said that the zonal system was the way to do it but stressed on the need for a 'Cricket Committee.' He also suggested that the BCCI must actively involve the former players and make them accountable.
"I strongly advocate setting up of a Cricket Committee. Give the committee its due importance, and everyone in it should be made accountable," he said, adding "Somebody who had been a captain or a good player, make use of him. Let them talk cricket to the Board president and suggest that we should act this way and not that way."
Dungarpur also felt that the importance of team manager's role on tours has not been realised.
"What is required is a strong-willed manager. But you keep on changing managers like a pack of cards on a rummy table. If not permanent, give him couple of tours at least and then assess," he said.
"A manager is not only to handle the travel and schedule of the team members. He represents the Indian Board, particularly the Board president. He has to give a totally unbiased report about what is going on and what should be going on," he said.
Dungarpur said the concept of India 'A' tours must be reviewed.
"We should have an India 'A' team. It must not go to softer venues like Malaysia and Bangladesh. They should be going to Australia, the best team in the world. When they lose to Australia, they will learn. You do not learn cricket by playing softer options. I think the whole thing needs to be looked at afresh," he said. The Cup: Complete Coverage
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