Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has recently been very vocal about his dissatisfaction regarding the selection of team India’s squad for the 2019 ODI World Cup. Shastri feels that the coach and the captain should have a say in the selection process.
The Indian cricket team participated in the 2019 World Cup with three wicketkeepers in the squad – with MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, and Rishabh Pant drafted into the squad. All three players were a part of India’s playing XI for the crucial semi-final match against New Zealand, where India lost by 18 runs.
While a captain sits in the selection meeting to give his inputs, the coach doesn’t even have a seat at the table. The selection power lies with the five-member selection panel. Ravi Shastri believes that the coach and captain should have a say in the selection process of the national team. Speaking to Star Sports, Shastri said:
“I think it is extremely important for the coach and the captain to have a say in the team selection, officially going forward. It is very important especially if the coach is experienced enough. I was, Rahul (Dravid) is, and the captain should also have a say,”
As per Shastri, the captain Speaking to Star Sports and he feels the same should happen in a meeting and not over a call. He said:
“It should happen in a meeting – not on the phone or outside – where the captain is there, so that he gets to see the mindsets of the selectors.”
He added: “What happens in the meeting when the convenor is there, all the big boys are there – he should be in that meeting,”
For the unversed, the former head coach had expressed his displeasure at the selection of three keepers in the 2019 WC squad, revealing how he “never interfered with selectors’ work.” He had said:
“I wasn’t okay with three wicketkeepers being picked for the World Cup. Either Ambati (Rayudu) or Shreyas (Iyer) could’ve come in. What was the logic in having MS Dhoni, Rishabh (Pant), and Dinesh (Karthik) altogether? But I never interfered with the selectors’ work, except when I was asked for feedback or as part of a general discussion,”
