New Delhi, Sept 19: Cricket legend Kapil Dev gave a thumbs down to BCCI's decision to extend the term of chief selector K. Srikkanth, and favoured a bigger role for recently retired Anil Kumble in the affairs of the Board.
BCCI, under new President N Srinivasan, decided to extend Srikkanth's term by one more year as per provisions in its rules.
“Even though he is a dear friend, I believe that rules should not have been changed to retain him. We should neither give credit for this year's World Cup win to the selectors nor hold them responsible for the humiliation in England recently.
“I believe that change is good and now that he (Srikkanth) has performed his duties, he should have moved on to other things in life,” Kapil said.
Another former cricketer, Madan Lal, was also in favour of having a new man in the job.
“A new chief selector would have brought in new vision and new ideas which is what we need right now to take Indian cricket forward,” Lal said.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly, who was offered by the BCCI to head its technical committee in place of Sunil Gavaskar, said Kumble, a legendary leg—spinner, should have been given a more prominent role.
“He heads the Karnataka State Cricket Association and has had a great record as a cricketer. The Board should involve him more while making cricketing decisions,” Ganguly said while participating in a show in ‘Aaj Tak'.
Kapil went a step ahead and wanted Kumble to be a part of the team selection process.
“I don't know the technicalities about whether he will have to leave the post of state cricket association President to become a selector. But, surely having a player like him as the chairman of selection committee will be a great asset,” Kapil opined.
Kapil refused to blame the selectors for the nightmarish England tour and said the players will have to behave with more responsibility as far as their injuries are concerned.
“If a player, especially if he's a senior, says that he is fit before the team is selected, then he has to be believed. Players should be honest enough to themselves, the nation and also the selectors.
“But yes, such situations do make things difficult for the selectors and they are prone to make one mistake after another, like we saw in recent weeks,” Kapil said. PTI
