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Chappell says no question of resigning: Reports
By IANS,
Apr 2, 2007 - 9:50:46 PM
New Delhi, April 2 - India coach Greg Chappell said that he would not resign from the post as it is a contractual job, Indian television channels reported Monday.
'I am not resigning from my position. There is no question of resigning, it is a contracted job,' Chappell, whose contract ended with the World Cup, told NDTV.
This is the first time that Chappell has spoken on record after India's abysmal World Cup performance in the West Indies. The Rahul Dravid-led Indian side lost two of the three matches, including one to minnows Bangladesh, to crash out in the first round.
Chappell's comments come just four days ahead of key meetings of the Board of Control for Cricket in India - called in Mumbai Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, top BCCI officials, including president Sharad Pawar, will meet among themselves and then with former India captains to find ways to take the Indian cricket forward following the World Cup debacle.
On the next day, the BCCI working committee will meet to discuss the World Cup performance and decide whether Chappell's contract would be extended or a new coach would be appointed.
Chappell also said he had completed his World Cup report, which he will submit to the BCCI soon.
NDTV also reported that Chappell was particularly angry with the senior players and the selectors.
Quoting source, the channel said that the coach believed that the biggest problem was that senior players operate like a 'mafia'.
'They 'hammer' and 'abuse' them because they feel threatened by the junior players and don't give them a chance,' it said.
'The source added that captain Rahul Dravid was 'undermined' and that he 'was under pressure from the senior players who operate like a 'mafia'.'
The channel also said that Chappell did not mind staying on as coach, but not with the same set of players.
'He, however, believed that the BCCI was trying to push him out and that the board wanted him to take the blame for the World Cup debacle, sources added,' it said.
Dravid's term as captain ended with the World Cup.
The BCCI will have to take a quick decision on the captain and the coach as India's next assignment is a tour of Bangladesh. The first match, a One-day International, is on May 10 in Mirpur.
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