Chappell and Sourav

Calcutta: The Greg Chappell-Sourav Ganguly ‘face-off’ isn’t the only problem on the Board’s plate.

According to The Telegraph’s sources, an even bigger worry should be that quite a few players haven’t “adjusted” to the coach’s ‘commitment to excellence’ mantra.

Not that they themselves aren’t aiming high. It’s just that the difference between John Wright and Chappell’s work ethic ? one isn’t suggesting the New Zealander was lax ? is appreciable and quite a few want “more” breathing space.

Perhaps, it’s not insignificant that Chappell has indicated reputations and past performances don’t exactly mean much.

Fair enough, but a distinct change in the work culture can’t happen overnight. Quite like Chappell insisting he doesn’t have a magic wand and that Team India will improve over time.

His stature notwithstanding, Chappell must realise that if he wants the world to be patient, his own approach (in driving the players) should be reasonable.

Also, he has to work within the system and not take liberties (like asking the captain to step down).

One of the factors which went against Chappell, when he first applied in 2000, is that the Board feared his high profile could lead to a clash with the established players.

The Board (with different officials at the helm) didn’t worry on that count when Chappell applied afresh earlier this year.

Former captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan was the only ‘selector’ who featured in both panels which interviewed Chappell.

Incidentally, the “problems” have arisen without Chappell having worked with our biggest star ? Sachin Tendulkar!

The Board officials are, at the moment, more concerned about how the AGM (in the city, on Thursday-Friday) is going to unfold. Not that anything dramatic is really expected.

However, they need a plan to ensure that the 2007 World Cup ‘campaign’, which kick-started with Chappell’s appointment four months ago, isn’t derailed in his very second assignment.

It’s a clich?, but much is at stake. It goes beyond the Chappell-Sourav equation.

Footnote: Contrary to reports in one of the newer TV channels, vice-captain Rahul Dravid didn’t travel with Chappell to Harare on Saturday. Instead, from Bulawayo, he went with most teammates (including Sourav, who initially wasn’t going) to Victoria Falls. Mohammed Kaif and Irfan Pathan also went there, while Anil Kumble actually stayed back as he’d planned a photo shoot. So much for the channel’s conspiracy theory involving the quartet.