Selectors are independent, insists BCCI

December 12, 2012 03:49 pm | Updated June 15, 2016 06:46 pm IST - New Delhi

Logo of BCCI. File photo

Logo of BCCI. File photo

The BCCI on Wednesday refuted former selector Mohinder Amarnath’s accusation that Board president N Srinivasan had blocked a move to sack under-fire skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, insisting that the selectors are “independent”.

Amarnath had created a flutter by openly admitting that “certain internal reason” stopped the selection committee from replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Indian captain after eight successive Test defeats in England and Australia.

But BCCI vice-president and Indian Premier League Chairman Rajeev Shukla rebutted the allegations.

“I will not go into what he has said. I don’t think this has ever happened. I don’t think it is appropriate to give statements like this,” Shukla told reporters.

“Whatever one has to say, one can say while participating in the (selection) meeting. Making comments about it, I think it is not appropriate as it creates some kind of perception in the minds of players and fans,” he said.

“Selectors are independent. They are not under any pressure,” he asserted.

Amarnath, while making the allegation, did not divulge the exact reasons for not sacking Dhoni despite India’s Test humiliation which has continued at home as well in the ongoing series against England.

“Definitely, there were discussions to replace Dhoni and people were agreeing to do so but for some internal reason, it didn’t happen. I will not like to divulge what were the reasons. But when the time is right, I will let the people of this country know about the reasons,” Amarnath, the hero of India’s 1983 World Cup victory, had said.

In a roundabout manner, Amarnath had also admitted that there were external pressures on the selection committee when the topic of Dhoni’s removal was broached.

“In Indian politics and cricket, it’s always the same. There are people who are controlling the game and other people are scared to take a stand,” he had stated.

“I believe that Dhoni should be removed as captain from the Tests. He hasn’t set the Test stage on fire. A captain’s place in the team should be secure and I don’t see his place secured in the side. He doesn’t have the technique for Test cricket,” he added.

It was widely believed that the veteran of 69 Tests and 74 ODIs, who was in line to become the chairman of selectors, was removed at the behest of BCCI president N Srinivasan as he had a fall-out on Dhoni issue.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.