‘Personal reasons’ cited in decision
GREG Chappell, the man many predicted would be the first casualty of India’s shock exit from the World Cup, has resigned.
The 58-year-old whose contract was up for renewal next month released a statement to the media today citing ‘personal reasons’ for his decision to step down.
Many had predicted the Board of Cricket Control in India would not extend his contract following India’s shock exit from the World Cup.
The team lost to both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and failed to get through to the Super 8 phase in one of their worst performances on the big stage in years.
The BCCI had pencilled in a meeting involving all senior members of the board as well as past players later this week to discuss India’s World Cup disaster.
The positions of both Greg Chappell and captain Rahul Dravid were said to be discussed at the meeting.
But in releasing a statement to the media Chappell made sure he was the one who made the decision on his future.
“I am grateful to the players with whom I have worked in this time for the challenges that they presented me with and which I tried to meet in a professional, methodical and interesting way in the interests of the team and the individual,” Chappell said in his statement.
He also thanked the players saying: “I am grateful to the players with whom I have worked in this time doe the challenges that they presented me with and which I tried to meet in a professional, methodical and interesting way in the interests of the team and individual.”
Chappell’s decision to step down came just hours after an interview with Sachin Tendulkar was published in the Times of India in which he criticised his coach.
“We do realise that we played badly and, as a team, we take full responsibility for that”, Tendulkar said. “But what hurt us most is if the coach has questioned our attitude.”
While Chappell never publicly criticised any of his players in the fallout of their World Cup exit some newspapers in India published what they said were extracts from a special report by Chappell for the BCCI in which he criticised the work ethic of some of the teams senior players during his tenure and more importantly during their short World Cup.
The newspaper reports detailed a clear divide in the Indian camp with all but two players – Irfan Pathan and Sreesanth – looking to have both Chappell and captain Dravid replaced.
What the BCCI decide later this week is anyone’s guess. What is for the sure, a vacant spot in the hot seat of Indian cricket is definitely up for grabs.
