Could not be team India coach as I lacked patronage in BCCI: Sehwag

Shubhanshu Sharma
Published on: 15 Sep 2017 10:59 PM GMT
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New Delhi: Virender Sehwag sparked a debate regarding the proficiency of team India head coach Ravi Shastri by claiming that he could not get the job as he lacked patronage in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Sehwag, who was also a participant for the job of Indian Cricket team's head coach, made the controversial remark on a national news channel on Friday.

"Dekhiye main coach isliye nahi ban paaya kyonki jo bhi coach chun rahe the unse mera koi setting nahin tha. (Look, I couldn't become the India coach because I didn't have any setting (common slang for hobnobbing with decision-makers) with those who were in power of appointing the coach)," said Sehwag.

Sehwag lost the race to Ravi Shastri who was touted to be the choice of team India captain Virat Kohli. Shastri, however, was not the unanimous choice as he faced strong opposition from former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly who happens to be a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC).

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The swashbuckling former opening batsman claimed he applied for the job as he was misled by a section of BCCI who sought his help in enhancing the team's performance at the international level. He, however, asserted that he would never apply for the job again.

"I never thought of coaching the Indian Cricket team. I was given an offer to coach the team. The BCCI (acting) secretary Amitabh Chaudhary and GM (Game Development) MV Sridhar came to me and requested me to think about the offer. I took my time and then applied for the position," Sehwag revealed.

He also brought Virat Kohli into the scene by pointing out that he even consulted the team India skipper before applying for the job.

"I also had a word with Virat Kohli, he asked me to go for it. It was only then that I applied. If you ask for my opinion, I would say that I was never interested.

"I thought since they are requesting me, I should help them. I never thought of applying on my own nor will I ever apply in future," Sehwag replied on being asked about the reason behind the application.

Making yet another revelation from the past, he asserted that Shahtri had once told him that he would never commit the mistake of applying for the job of team India head coach, and pointed out that he would never have applied if he knew that Shastri was also among the participants.

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"When I was in England during the Champions Trophy, I had asked Ravi Shastri that why he hasn't applied for the post? Shastri then told me that he will not repeat the mistake which he had already made once.

"If Ravi had applied earlier, then I don't think there would have been any chance of me applying for the post. I would have never applied," a flamboyant Sehwag said.

Since Sehwag made the revelation on the national TV, social media has been abuzz with the speculations that merit is no more the actual criteria for getting a job with BCCI.

Shubhanshu Sharma

Shubhanshu Sharma

Writer has 6 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Senior Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.

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