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No Fear No Favour

Couldn’t become head coach due to lack of ‘setting’ in BCCI: Virendra Sehwag

Stating that he has no interest to apply for the position again, Sehwag pointed fingers at Kohli’s strong backing for Ravi Shastri’s appointment as the new head coach.
Taking a fresh dig at the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI), former Indian opener Virendra Sehwag today claimed that he was not picked as the chief coach of the Men in Blues because he lacked patronage from the powers that be in the Indian cricket’s governing body. Further stating that he will not apply for the post in future, Sehwag pointed fingers at Captain Virat Kohli’s strong backing for the appointment of Ravi Shastri as the new head coach.

Ravi Shastri appointment came as a part of a decision which was not unanimous with former Indian Captain and Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) member Sourav Ganguly. Previously the Team Director of the national side, Shastri replaced the former head coach Anil Kumble, who served the role for just a year.
Speaking at an interview to India Tv, Sehwag said, “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 main coach because I had no setting with whoever was selecting someone for the position).”

Mumbai: Former cricketer Virendra Sehwag during the launch of Television show, ‘Umeed India’ in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI Photo by Mitesh Bhuvad(PTI7_18_2017_000101B)


Further stating that his decision to apply for the position came following his discussions with Kohli, Sehwag said, “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. 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”
Also hitting out at Ravi Shastri, Sehwag said, “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.”

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