Players, selectors need to communicate well; they're not children: CoA head Vinod Rai
Mumbai: The communication channel between the Indian cricket team management, selectors and discarded players has become a big issue.
Recently, Karun Nair and Murali Vijay went on record stating that there was "no communication" from either the selectors or the team management, an allegation emphatically denied by chairman of selectors MSK Prasad and COA chief Vinod Rai.
Although Prasad has said that his colleague Devang Gandhi has spoken to the concerned players, Indian captain Virat Kohli refrained from making any comments on the issue.
While the matter has become a hot topic of discussion, Rai said he does not see the need for the CoA to get involved into it.
“I don’t think I would wish to bring the matter up (when he meets them in Hyderabad before the second Test against West Indies). Not all that has been said is true. Also, I think they are not children that I need to get into this. I feel that there is a need for good communication between the players and the team management (the selectors are a part of it). And as long as that is happening, all is good,” the CoA head was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times.
The Committee of Administrators (COA) will meet India's chief coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli along with the selection panel on Wednesday.
The meeting, which is scheduled in Hyderabad, will also address a few core issues like the code of conduct for centrally-contracted players, and requirement of extra support staff. Apart from that, contracts for new players will be discussed. India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will also be a part of the deliberations.
It is unlikely that any decision on skipper Kohli's request to have the wives of players and support staff being allowed for the full duration of overseas tours being sanctioned immediately.
The main issue will be preparation for the tour of Australia that starts with a three-match T20 series on November 21.
But the main discussion will be centred around the four-Test series beginning December 6 in Adelaide.
The Indian team management has already asked for an extra tour game before the first Test in order to prepare better.
Cricket Australia had responded positively to the request and are in the process of arranging an extra tour game.
Some of the Test specialists like Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara are expected to travel to New Zealand with the India A team in order to get ready for the Australia series.
There are talks of having a specialist spin bowling coach with the Indian team as the slow bowlers have struggled outside the sub-continent.
Names like Laxman Sivaramakrishnan and current NCA coach Narendra Hirwani are doing rounds in case the COA gives a go-ahead to appoint a new spin bowling consultant.
